The Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim is taking his idea of internationalizing the Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II charge by organizing a series of information sessions by the Foreign Ministry overseas “to give a true picture so there will be no misconceptions that can hurt Malaysia’s image” one step further.
Yesterday, he announced raising the issue to the United Nations level through a letter to the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to explain Malaysia’s view on what it sees as American interference in the Anwar Sodomy II charge.
Is Rais banking on the support of rogue states like Myanmar, Zimbabwe and Sudan by taking the Anwar Sodomy II issue to the United Nations?
Instead of accusing the United States of violating international law and “meddling in Malaysia’s international affairs”, Rais should lead the charge in the Cabinet on Wednesday to demand the dropping of the Sodomy II charge against Anwar especially as a recent opinion survey has shown that only 11% of the respondents believe in the Sodomy II allegation made against Anwar.
Rais said Malaysian diplomats overseas had been instructed that they should defend the country against any negative perceptions arising from Anwar’s Sodomy II charge – starting with a series of meetings with foreign governments to explain what is going on, the first will be in Washington at the end of next month, to be followed by the European countries.
Before Rais goes international to justify the government’s handling of the Anwar Sodomy II charge, the government should first convince Malaysians that the government had acted fairly, justly and honourably in accordance with the principles of the rule of law in the Anwar Sodomy II charge.
This should be done when Parliament reconvenes next Monday on August 18 when MPs reassemble for the first day of the budget meeting of Parliament, with the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi presenting a ministerial statement to justify the government’s handling of the Anwar Sodomy II charge as fully in accord with justice, fair play and the rule of law – devoid of any political persecution or selective prosecution.
This ministerial statement, which should be the first official business of Parliament on August 18, should be followed by a full parliamentary debate.
If the Prime Minister is not prepared to present such a ministerial statement to Parliament to be followed by a debate, what is the use of the government referring the issue to the United Nations by writing to its Secretary-General and organizing a series of information sessions in the foreign capitals of the West?