MPS RAISE CONCERN OVER SODOMY TRIAL (MP Australia GAY sokong Anwar Ibrahim)

on 08 March 2010.

Federal parliamentarians have raised their concerns with Malaysia’s diplomatic representative in Canberra over the second sodomy trial of Malaysia’s opposition leader.
Fifteen Senators and 41 MPs signed the letter.

Anwar Ibrahim was convicted and imprisoned for sodomy and corruption charges in 1998.
The sodomy charges were overturned by Malaysia’s Supreme Court in 2004, resulting in his release.

If he is convicted of the charges in this latest case, he could face up to 20 years in prison which will also spell the end to his political career.

The charges, which were brought by a former political aide to Ibrahim have been labelled a political conspiracy” by government critics.

Wentworth MP Malcolm Turnbull said the signatories “are disappointed that in a democratic country the law is being used as a device to try and drive the leader of the opposition out of public life”.

I value Australia’s close diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with Malaysia, and admire Malaysia’s economic and social progress over recent decades.

I have no desire to interfere in Malaysia’s internal affairs. But equally I feel an obligation to act to uphold human rights in our region, and to protest against human rights violations,” Turnbull said.

Many friendly observers of Malaysia find it difficult to believe that a leading opposition voice could be charged with sodomy a second time, and so soon after his party made major gains in national elections,” the letter states.

It should be made known to the Malaysian Government, that in our opinion, global esteem for Malaysia will be affected by these charges against Mr Anwar. We hope that Malaysia’s authorities will not pursue these changes.”

Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek and Grayndler MP Anthony Albanese did not respond to SX before going to press.

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