IS HE RICHER THAN NAJIB, MORE POWERFUL THAN DR M? Of all politicians, why would Sirul call Pas' Mahfuz?

Like everyone else, I too was looking forward to whatever Sirul Azhar had to say yesterday. In my mind, all sorts of conspiracy theories were played out all morning: What is Sirul Azhar going to say? What is Mahfuz Omar working on with him? Is Mahfuz Omar trying to divert attention away from the man in Sungai Buloh? Is the teleconference really happening?

No one can ascertain for sure that what Sirul was going to say would actually be the truth because of his credibility as a criminal and perhaps his only way out is through political means even though he will end up as a chess piece and sent to the gallows when of no use.

First, let’s look at the chronology of events in recent weeks:

1. On January 13, the Federal Court delivered its judgement. The judges found Sirul guilty of murder and was sentenced to death.

2. On the same day, the court was told that Sirul was abroad and an arrest warrant was issued.

3. On January 20, Sirul was placed on Interpol's Red Notice watch list. This notice is for the all police organisations to seek the location and the arrest of the criminal.

Mahfuz Omar (left)

4. On January 21, Malaysia's IGP announced that Sirul had been arrested in Queensland, Australia. Sirul was then transfered to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, 27km away from Sydney's CBD.

5. On February 20, PAS information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar said PAS had arranged for a teleconference with Sirul on February 23.

6. On the same day, the Australian Immigration Department denied approving Sirul's teleconference call. The spokesman said “the department does not facilitate interviews within detention facilities for operational reasons”.

Today, it was a major disappointment to many which left more questions than answers – not on Sirul but for Mahfuz Omar.

After 15 attempts, Mahfuz failed to connect to Sirul despite the "we have arranged for it" statements. Many frustrated journalists left PAS HQ after a few heated moments. Two hours later, Mahfuz's phone rang and he said that it was Sirul who was on the line.

After nearly two hours of no-show with perhaps more journalists than candles in Sungai Buloh, “Sirul” decided to call to thank the press for their coverage and he had nothing to say? Why did he not use the 15 minutes’ opportunity to release a statement?

When asked to prove that it really was Sirul, Mahfuz showed his phone with SMS exchanges between him and a contact listed as Sirul 1.

I understand that there are human rights and the rights of a detainee. But SMSes? Teleconference? A detention centre which allow detainees to have access to mobile phones?

The voice call was so loud, crisp and clear as though it were a call made from within the same building or nearby with clear connection.

Though some reports say that a detainee can have a mobile phone with no audio or camera recording functions (which leaves us with something like a Nokia 3310), there are some articles which mentioned that if an immigration detainee needs to use a telephone for a confidential matter, an officer can and will facilitate a phone call (eg. if a person needs to contact a lawyer or an advocate). In prisons, inmates are not allowed access to mobile phones but can make calls through the Prisoner Telephone System with written application to the prison authorities. Prisoners are not allowed to take part in conference calls.

Well, Mahfuz is neither a lawyer nor is he an advocate here. He is a politician. And Sirul is a wanted man by Interpol, a fugitive and a murderer in criminal case here. He gets to use a mobile phone?

And of all politicians in Malaysia, Sirul chose to call Mahfuz. So, was that really him, Mahfuz? Or was it a diversion tactic from Sungai Buloh? – TMI