"Malaysia is a critical ally (to Australia) in the region and to stand by while its leader is facing trumped-up charges and a lengthy prison term is a tragedy and travesty," Xenophon was reported as saying by The Guardian today.
"Anwar has more charges against him than Muhammad Ali has had punches".
Anwar is appealing against a controversial sodomy conviction, and one of his counsels, N. Surendran has been charged with sedition for saying that the charge was politically motivated.
The appeal is scheduled to take place on October 28.
Apart from his sodomy case, Anwar is also being investigated for sedition after having been accused of making seditious comments in a political speech three years ago.
Meanwhile, ABC News reported that Anwar had met with Xenophon in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday where he criticised Australia for sending troops to the Middle East but ignoring threats to freedom in the Asian region.
"To say that we have to send troops elsewhere to defend democracy and freedom and be completely blinded to the atrocities committed around you... This to me is not acceptable," Anwar was quoted as saying.
Anwar was referring to Putrajaya's ongoing sedition dragnet that has netted a string of opposition politicians, social activists, law academicians, a news portal and one of its journalists, as well as Muslim preachers, all of whom have either been charged with sedition, are facing trial or are under investigation.
The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that six PKR lawmakers were taking their protest against Putrajaya's sedition blitz to five cities in Australia this month.
PKR vice-president and Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli will lead the team to stops in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney from October 17 to 23.
Rafizi said the delegation comprised himself, Darell Leiking, who is the MP for Penampang, Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru) and Wong Chen (Kelana Jaya) as well as two assemblymen – Selangor's Seri Setia representative Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Pahang's Lee Chean Chung, the Semambu representative.
They will meet with Malaysian students, academics, Australian government officials and parliamentarians, including Xenophon.
- TMI
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