In the wake of the latest disclosures by former US ambassador to Malaysia John Malott, Pakatan Rakyat leaders have demanded that Prime Minister Najib Razak and former premier Mahathir Mohamad come clean on allegations they had plotted to jail Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim on trumped-up sodomy charges,
"The ball is in Najib's court. He is the sitting PM and he must state very cleary, is he involved and was there any tie-up with Mahathir in the current case and in 1998," MP for Ipoh Barat M Kulasegaran told Malaysia Chronicle.
"I think the Malaysian public is already very well aware of all the writing on the wall, but now a former US ambassador has said it loud and clear. This is serious and must be answered. To keep quiet would put Malaysia to shame. It is time for Najib to realise he is not PM just for UMNO but also for all Malaysia."
Indeed the article entitled Malott drops a bombshell: A secret pact between Najib and Anwar offered a shocking insight into the world of UMNO politics, regarded as being amongst the dirtiest in the region. In fact, for several hours after publishing the article, the Malaysia Chronicle website came under attack by unidentified hackers.
Two different sources told the US embassy
Malott was in charge of the Kuala Lumpur mission from 1995 to 1998, In his article, he told of how a decision was made by the powers-that-be during that time to keep persecuting Anwar until he was immunised and useless politically.
Two different sources, Najib's close aide Razak Baginda and a Special Branch officer, told his embassy officers of a plot to shut out Anwar at all costs.
Now 64, Anwar had then been the Deputy Prime Minister cum Finance Minister as well as deputy UMNO president. He was a shining star and by 1997, had already built enough grassroots support to successfully challenge Mahathir for the top job.
Anwar had then led a team called Wawasan 2020 or Vision 2020 within UMNO and this was considered the dream team of its time. According to Malott's article, Anwar had also struck an alliance with Najib, who agreed to be DPM to Anwar's PM when Mahathir was gone.
Dirty politics not acceptable
But then Najib betrayed Anwar, siding with Mahathir once Anwar was sacked and thrown into jail on trumped-up sodomy charges in 1998.
"This reflects a treacherous streak in Najib but what is more worrisome is the possible collusion between Mahathir and Najib to 'do in' Anwar so to speak. Obviously, this goes against transparency and good governance and Najib owes the nation an explanation or step down," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.
Tian's sentiments were echoed by other colleagues, who said that Malaysians had the right to know if their leaders were practising dirty politics and the right to decide if they should be punished for doing so.
"This is explosive information. We are shocked at the disclosures and Najib must to clear his name on this matter. No less than a former high-level US official with access to the best information and contacts has spoken out. It should be debated and discussed openly because the people have been suspecting it for years and have the right to know if their leaders are practising dirty politics. These sort of methods are no longer acceptable in today's society. And then, most of all Anwar has the right to justice," PKR communications director Nik Nazmi told Malaysia Chronicle.
Indeed, if found guilty Anwar stands to be jailed for up to 20 years.
Najib following in Mahathir's footsteps
Malott also disclosed how Najib's close aide Razak Baginda had told a US embassy staff that a decision had been made to "nuke" Anwar until he could "never stand up again politically.”
After that, a Special Branch officer had also told an Embassy official, “We are going to keep filing charge after charge after Anwar so he will be in jail for the next hundred years.”
"Can there be any doubt about what was going on then – and what is going on now?" said Malott, who also described the onslaught by Anwar's enemies as a "political decision".
On Monday, when defending himself against the 2008 sodomy charges he has accused Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor of hatching, Anwar told the court.
“This entire process is nothing but a conspiracy by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Razak to send me into political oblivion by attempting once again to put me behind bars. I therefore declare that I have no faith whatsoever that justice will prevail in these proceedings notwithstanding the valiant efforts made by my defence team. As I have said at the outset, this is not a criminal trial. It is a charade staged by the powers that be to put me out of action in order that they remain in power.”
"In 1998, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad did just that and by his Machiavellian use of all the organs of power of the State, succeeded in getting me convicted for fifteen years for offences that I had never committed. Such was the tyranny and injustice done to me then. And such is the tyranny and injustice being "perpetuated today."
"Najib Razak is doing the same thing as his mentor did, which is to employ all means within his power through the media, the police, the Attorney General and the judiciary in order to subvert the course of justice and to take me out of the political equation."
"This relentless conviction to send me back to prison became all the more imperative because of the major victories gained by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat in the March 2008 elections. Their worst fears were confirmed when it became clear that once my legal disqualification was over I would be contesting for a parliamentary seat and if I won, would be elected leader of the opposition."
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