There are no political prisoners in Malaysia, says ex-IGP

There are no political prisoners in Malaysia, said former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan who denied claims made by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and US lawyer Kimberley Motley on the status of jailed PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“Sometimes I am puzzled how people can say that there are political prisoners in Malaysia. To me, Malaysia never had any political prisoners, even during the times of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

“If there were political prisoners, those detained under the ISA can’t run in elections, can’t be appointed as ministers, opposition leaders… they can’t... if we (Malaysia) truly had political prisoners,” he told a press conference at a hotel in Petaling Jaya today.

He further pointed out that the situation in Malaysia was unlike in Myanmar where Aung San Suu Kyi was a political prisoner and placed under house arrest.

“(In Malaysia) even though we used to have ISA, (there are current) ministers who were formerly detainees but they can enter politics after being released, they can (contest) and win elections, they can become leaders and do other things,” said Musa.

Mahathir had in a joint statement with Motley (photo) yesterday reiterated the call for Anwar’s immediate release on grounds of his status as a political prisoner, as recognised by several international human rights watchdog.

“Anwar is a political prisoner and has been detained for more than 34 months. We urge the government to seriously consider our request in the name of justice and Malaysia’s international reputation,” said the duo.

They also echoed the view of global rights groups who had described Anwar (photo) as a “prisoner of conscience”.

While Anwar’s supporters had likened the campaign for his freedom to the struggle to free South Africa’s first black president Nelson Mandela, who was a political prisoner, Musa begged to differ.

“To me, there is no political prisoner in Malaysia. If there were political prisoners, we would be like South Africa in the times of Nelson Mandela.

“He is a true political prisoner and they were not put on trial, detained for many years and prevented from any form of political participation. They are political prisoners,” he stressed.

Anwar is serving a five-year prison term at Sungai Buloh prison for sodomy, a charge he claims is politically motivated.

He was sent to prison in Feb 2015, but is expected to be released by the middle of next year, with his sentence cut short for good behaviour.- Mkini