[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 13 Sep 1999
Time: 21:18:37
Remote User: -
Malaysian PM defends judiciary over Anwar trials
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 (AFP) - Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday defended Malaysia's judiciary over the trial of his ex-deputy Anwar Ibrahim, who is reportedly in "good condition" after being hospitalised for suspected arsenic poisoning. The premier said the perception of human rights had been distorted to cover only the freedom of political dissidents.
"Ideas about human rights are getting more and more peculiar," he said when opening a four-day Commonwealth Law Conference.
"Impoverishing millions of people, depriving them of medicine, even killing large numbers of them directly or indirectly are not considered violation of human rights but arrest a political dissident and the whole world condemns the government for violations of human rights."
Even jurists seemed to be "more concerned about developing countries not understanding legal processes, are corrupt and are disposed towards poisoning and plotting the overthrow of political rivals," he said.
Anwar was hospitalised Friday after his lawyers told his ongoing sodomy trial that traces of arsenic 77 times normal levels had been found in his urine sample tested in Australia, bringing the trial to an abrupt halt.
Hospital authorities said Monday that Anwar was in "good condition."
A panel of specialists is conducting comprehensive tests on Anwar, National University Hospital director Khalid Abdul Kadir was reported as saying by the official Bernama news agency, but did not elaborate.
Anwar has charged that his dismissal last September was part of a plot planned by Mahathir. He was sentenced to six years' jail in April for corruption, and has described the alleged poisoning as a murder attempt.
Mahathir, who has dismissed fears of a murder plot against Anwar, also accused foreigners of being biased in judging the independence of Malaysian courts.
"If a favourite son or favourite leader is being tried and he is not acquitted, then the court is viewed as being not independent," he told a news conference later.
"But if somebody, for example if I were brought before the court and the court decides against me, then the court is independent."
Malaysia has nothing to fear as it upholds the rule of law, he said.
"You may want to check. You are welcome to do so. We have nothing to hide but open minds are necessary for you to judge fairly," he told some 1,500 participants, including 29 chief justices, 41 judges and five attorney-generals.
But in a separate speech to the conference, Malaysia's Bar Council president R.R. Chelvarajah said adverse comments on the judiciary should be taken seriously.
"These comments should not be ignored or brushed aside by castigating those who make them as meddlers in internal affairs," he said. "Nothing is more debilitating to a nation than to have a judiciary which does not command the respect and confidence of the public."
Chelvarajah earlier issued a separate statement, saying the bar council was "shocked" over claims that Anwar had been poisoned and backed calls by his wife and other groups for an independent inquiry.
"These facts as alleged raised very serious implications for Anwar's physical security," he said.
"The present situation which would indicate another attempt at inflicting serious, if not fatal, injuries on Anwar and the allegations of high level conspiracy make it imperative that an independent and public inquiry be immediately commissioned.
"The bar council calls for a royal commission of inquiry to be set up to speedily determine the cause of the arsenic poisoning and the persons responsible," he added.