Malaysian socialists condemn bogus guilty verdict on Anwar Ibrahim

Supporters of Anwar Ibrahim rally outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, February 10, 2015.

By S. Arutchelvan, secretary general, PSM

February 10, 2015 -- Socialist Party of Malaysia, posted at Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal -- The Parti Sosialis Malaysia (Socialist Party of Malaysia, PSM) is appalled at the disgraceful judgement by the highest court in the nation on [opposition leader] Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy II case. Any person following the trial in the Federal Court would have made a overwhelmingly foregone conclusion that Anwar is innocent and he should be free man today. This hope was dashed and now in shambles.

The judgement today further deepens our  convictions that the courts are not independent and are politically driven. The prime minister's department, which in normal circumstances responds late to any issues, has issued a statement very promptly and efficiently. Was this statement ready before the judgement? One would not need to be a genius to answer this.

The highest court has unanimously put to shame our criminal justice system and judiciary beyond repair. It is time people wake up that something is seriously wrong.

The decision today, besides creating a political crisis as well as leadership crisis in Pakatan Rakyat, will also derail real issues faced by the normal rakyat [people] such as the serious increase in the prices of goods, the floods, the dengue epidemic, the implementation of the GST and other real issues. The decision is designed to keep us away from addressing the real issues while the culprits continue to reap huge profit and immense huge power.

It is time to unite against this corrupt system.

We stand in unity with Pakatan Rakyat and Anwar's family on this.

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty!