Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim yesterday accused his country’s government of seeking to convict him quickly of sodomy as part of efforts to deflect attention against its own woes.
Anwar spoke out angrily after he lost his appeal for access to the government’s evidence against him in the trial, which is due to start in Kuala Lumpur next week and could see him jailed for 20 years.
“I’m shocked with the (government’s) impunity to go on with such a case despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary,” Anwar told AFP on a short trip to the Philippines.
Anwar accused Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak of orchestrating efforts to have him convicted, and said he feared the court could buckle under the pressure from the government.
Asked if he thought he would win the case, Anwar said: “Yes, assuming the court agrees... to look at facts and the law. I’m confident of the facts.
Anwar said the court case may be over in a matter of weeks.
Anwar insisted the government was seeking to jail him on sodomy charges only to eliminate his political challenge, as Najib’s ruling party was losing popularity amid corruption allegations and rising racial domestic tensions. AFP
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