Sodomy trials: Dr M bears brunt of blame

VOXPOP 'Indeed, Anwar's life has been encircled in courts and no one in the political history of Malaysia has gone through what Anwar has.'

Sodomy II trial judge: Man of many moods

Pemerhati: Queen's Counsel and author Mark Trowell describes what he saw in his book, but in a false democracy like Malaysia the head of government is like a dictator and he can get the judiciary to dance to his tune. All that transpired was just a charade to fool the world and the public.

The unfair manner in which the trial was initially conducted indicated that Najib, like Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was going to imprison Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The not-guilty verdict is a reflection of Najib's well-known vacillating and indecisive character because he must have been unsure on what to do until the last moment.

In the end, he decided that it was better for him to keep Anwar out of prison as it probably dawned on him that when Mahathir pulled the same stunt, he was punished by the Malay electorate but was saved by the Chinese vote.

Now if he were to send Anwar to prison again, the Malays may react in the same way. But as the Chinese support for BN has drastically dwindled, it could result in BN's defeat at the coming polls.

Hermit: Yes, Mr Trowell, after Anwar was sacked from his last post as deputy prime minister and simultaneously expelled from Umno, his life does not revolve around politics but around Malaysian courts.

For the last 20 years, much of the courts' time has been channeled into hearing sodomy charges against him, thanks to Mahathir, who has effectively taught Malaysian children as young as four years old all about sodomy.

Starr: Indeed, Anwar's life has been encircled in courts and no one in the political history of Malaysia has gone through what Anwar has.

He has suffered all this while not because he has done wrong, but because he has differed with his former boss, Mahathir, on matters of opinion.

For the unfairness in treatment, Mahathir has to bear the brunt of the blame. Nothing in this world can justify the kind of ill-treatment Anwar has to endure for a great part of his life.

On the other hand, it also reflects the kind of character of the person responsible for it.

Hang Tuah PJ: I never did like DSAI (Anwar) before but with the constant harassment and embarrassment that he and his family had to go through, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

Previously, I would have never voted for DSAI but now, if he were to contest in my constituency, my family and I will definitely vote for him.

All the constant harassment should have changed him to become a better man and he will now feel what the man in the street is going through.

BN, keep on harassing DSAI and he is going to get more votes, if not sympathy votes. Indeed, a lot of my friends feel the same way.

Anonymous #19098644: The government abused the judicial process to tie Anwar up in court. It has time and again chosen to oppress opposition figures with selective prosecutions.

It has also failed in many cases to ensure that corrupt and criminal acts are brought to justice, resulting in the people having a poor opinion of our once respected judiciary.

RR: I am sure judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah followed his conscience by putting fear of God in his mind when delivering his final judgment.

For this, he will be definitely rewarded by God in this life and hereafter. The people and the world know that our judiciary at the apex level lives in fear or bias. - Malaysiakini