Pakatan reps suspect hidden hands behind removal of Anwar petition

(Malay Mail Online) – Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers believe there may be sabotage involved in the sudden removal of the petition urging for US intervention in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s imprisonment for sodomy.

Shortly after the petition was removed from the White House website this morning, PKR’s Batu MP Chua Tian Chang claimed of “hidden hands” attempting to thwart PR’s campaign for Anwar’s release.

“Its regrettable,” Chua told Malay Mail Online when met in Parliament.

“There are hidden hands  trying to sabotage the move, but the battle for international lobby will continue,” he vowed.

At a press conference in Parliament later, DAP’s Klang MP Charles Santiago suggested the same but claimed the removal of the petition may be linked to Malaysia’s negotiation with the United States government in the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

“There are rumours going on that Malaysia has put pressure on the White House to not support petition because of TPPA. It is totally improper,” he said.

According to a brief notice on the White House website earlier today, the petition urging the Obama administration to negotiate Anwar’s release was removed for being in violation of its “terms of participation”.

“Thanks for your interest in We the People, a new tool on WhiteHouse.gov that allows all Americans to ask the Obama Administration to take action on a range of important issues facing our country.

“The petition you are trying to access has been removed from the site under our Moderation Policy because it is in violation of our Terms of Participation,” the notice said.

“While you can’t sign this petition, there may be other petitions on We the People on a similar issue that you’d like to add your name to. Or, you can create your own petition,” it added.

Chua said, however, that despite the petition’s removal, the battle to seek Anwar’s release will continue.

“The whole issue is not in the White House… it’s not their battle. It’s ours here.

The lawmaker added that the petition is just one of PR’s many attempts to free Anwar, which he alleged has frightened the ruling Barisan Nasional government into taking action.

“This petition is just one of it but it is evident enough that it has frightened the ruling regime so much that there has been attempt, which  I suspect comes from the government to sabotage the actions.

“I don’t think this will stop the people from showing their solidarity,” he added.

It is not expressly known which participation term the petition had violated.

Malay Mail Online is attempting to ascertain the reason or reasons for its removal.