Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub jailed for opposing Mahathir
The sentences come as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s government prepares to prosecute more than 100 activists who participated in a rally on Sunday to demand the release of the jailed former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
BBC, 9 November 2000
Three leaders of Malaysia’s largest opposition party, PAS, have been jailed for participating in an illegal anti-government protest three years ago.
Mahfuz Omar, Salahuddin Ayub and Jalaluddin Abdul Manaf, senior leaders of the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), led a rally in 1997 against a planned visit by an Israeli cricket team to Malaysia, where just over half the population are Muslims.
A court sentenced the three to one month in jail after they refused to pay a fine of $395.
Salahuddin Ayub has since done a U-turn and has defected to Mahathir’s coalition
“I refuse to make any payment to the oppressive regime of [Prime Minister] Dr Mahathir,” Mr Mahfuz was quoted as saying.
Lawyer Zulkifli Noordin said Mr Mahfuz had been praying at a mosque when the peaceful protest began and had not organised the gathering.
Another PAS activist, Minjah Mahmood, who was also found guilty, paid the fine. The party said he was too sick to serve a jail sentence.
Mahathir is now the leader of the people he jailed
Police in Malaysia have wide powers to declare any gathering illegal.
The sentences come as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s government prepares to prosecute more than 100 activists who participated in a rally on Sunday to demand the release of the jailed former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Malaysia’s opposition have accused the police of using brutal methods to break up the rally.
At least 128 people were arrested and about a fifth of them say they were beaten up by police.
Mahfuz Omar is now Mahathir’s greatest fan
On Wednesday, Mr Mahfuz told parliament that many protesters were injured and one almost blinded when tear gas was fired at point-blank range.
Sunday’s rally was the largest this year in support of Mr Anwar, who is now serving 15 years for corruption and sodomy.
His 1998 conviction triggered unprecedented street protests against the government.
Mr Anwar says the charges were trumped up to stop his attempts to bring in reforms.
