‘Prison bars will not end fight for justice’

Even if incarcerated, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim says it will not stop him from fighting for justice against Umno.

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has vowed to continue fighting for justice even if he is put behind bars.

The PKR supremo told this to reporters after the final hearing of his Sodomy II trial. The High Court is schedueld to deliver its verdict on Jan 9, next year.

Asked how he felt about the possibility of being jailed for a second time, the defiant 64-year-old politician replied: “I’ve gone through that, it’s not too difficult.”

“It’s not a question of me volunteering to go to jail. For what reason? Just because I decided not to join Umno or rejoin Umno? That I decided to fight them for their racist unjust policies?

“Doesn’t make a difference. In jail, or outside, I will fight for justice,” he stressed.

On the charge and trial itself, Anwar, who has always maintained that it is a political conspiracy against him, said that he should be acquitted.

“We have said and I must reiterate, in the first place the charge should not have been preferred, the defence should not have been called. But now we have gone through the process, I must get an acquittal based on the facts and the law,” he added.

Anwar reiterated that the court process has not been fair but hoped that “sanity will prevail” and the judge would base his findings on facts and law.

“I’ve said it from my statement from the dock (that the court is unfair). And we’ve adduced enough cogent, compelling, and incontrovertible evidence to support that argument,” he said.

Anwar said that it would be “very difficult and ludicrous” to suggest that the defence has not raised reasonable doubt.

“It would be totally unjust and cruel for the political masters to get a conviction,” he added.

Asked on the effects of the impending verdict on Malaysia, the former deputy premier said:”I’m positive it will spearhead this clamour for reform. Whatever said and done, the general perception is that we need judicial reform.”

“It (the verdict) will strengthen the resolve of the opposition and public awareness to the need for reform. Why do people who do not share the views of the government and Najib have to endure this abuse, insult and intimidation?” he added.

Anwar said he expected a later date for the decision as there was a lot of evidence to go through.

“(Lead counsel) Karpal (Singh) had said in a normal criminal trial, three weeks can be a reasonable time. But in this case, we have thousands of pages of evidence, it would require somewhat a longer time. I am a bit anxious to know why we have to rush…

“I would have thought it would have come after the general election,” he added.