by Anisah Shukry
The Malaysian Insider
10 February 2015
Hours before the Federal Court delivers its verdict on his sodomy appeal, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim vowed that the fight for a better Malaysia would continue even if he was behind bars.
The opposition leader told a crowd of about 2,000 who gathered at Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya last night that he was prepared for such an outcome and would accept the prison sentence as a sacrifice that he must pay to save Malaysia.
“The moment we say we surrender or accept defeat, that is the end of the struggle. But we will continue to fight.
“God willing, I will be acquitted. But if I am imprisoned, we will still fight. We will never surrender,” he told the final leg of the “Rakyat Hakim Negara” (The people are the judge) tour series last night.
Anwar said he had refused numerous offers to seek asylum in other countries and chose to face the Federal Court to set an example to the people to stand up to cruelty and oppression.
“If the struggle for change requires a little sacrifice, then I must come forward. If I want the youth to come forward, then I, Anwar, no matter how bitter it is, 67 years old, must be willing to face the country’s leaders and say, ‘yes, I am prepared’.
“No amount of project or money will alter my position because I am committed to save, together with Malaysians, to save this great country Malaysia that we love.”
But the PKR de facto chief was confident that the Federal Court’s verdict tomorrow would be in his favour, saying he was innocent of the charges against him.
“The journalists who interview me keep asking, what would happen if I went to prison? I said to them, who would dare throw me into prison? I am innocent!”
Earlier, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu in his speech urged Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to remain united regardless of the verdict, so that Malaysians would have a viable alternative to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
“Let us not break apart, Umno would love it if we broke apart. Whether Anwar is in or outside prison, we will continue to stay in Pakatan Rakyat,” said Mohamad.
DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang, who also took the stage, said the court’s decision was not just a test for Anwar but also the judiciary and the government.
He said should Anwar be jailed, the public must help PR topple the government in the next election so that they could free him.
“Malaysia is on trial. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but let us make a commitment. If Anwar goes to prison, from tomorrow onwards, we will gather the strength and mobilise the public and fight for the freedom of Anwar.
“In the 14th general election, we will topple the government and free Anwar. Thirty million Malaysians to free Anwar and bring about change to Malaysia,” said the Gelang Patah MP.
The High Court in 2012 acquitted Anwar of a charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, but the Court of Appeal last year reversed the findings of the trial court and sentenced the Permatang Pauh MP to five years’ jail.
Anwar is on bail pending today’s decision by the Federal court bench chaired by chief justice Tun Arifin Zakaria. – February 10, 2015.