My Anthem

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Former DPM's arest in BBC news just hours later...

The Britsh Broadcastng Corporation already had a substantive story on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's arrest just a few hours after it happened. Following the former DPM's succesfulouting for a live TV debate with Information Minister Datuk Shabery Cheek dubbed the "Fuel Duel", this is an international attention-grabbing crossroads Malaysian happening:

Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim arrested

Anwar was due to report to police today, but police went to find him first
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been arrested outside his home, his lawyer has said.

Mr Anwar was stopped by several police officers outside his home and taken to police headquarters.

His lawyer said no reason was given for the arrest, which came shortly before Mr Anwar was due to give a statement to police over sodomy allegations.

The former deputy prime minister denies the allegations, which he says are aimed at ending his political comeback.

Armed police

Mr Anwar has been has been in a tense stand-off with police since a former male aide accused him of sodomy two weeks ago.
Police used tear gas and water cannon against Mr Anwar's supporters in 1998

The 60 year-old opposition leader had always been due to report to police on Wednesday, to be interviewed over sodomy allegations.

But police decided not to wait. Mr Anwar was stopped outside the gates of his home on Wednesday morning, by armed police wearing balaclavas.

He was taken to police HQ in a large convoy.

His lawyer and his wife have been seen going into the building.

Mr Anwar's arrest will be seen as provocative by Malaysian opposition groups.

When he was arrested on similar charges 10 years ago, his supporters staged large demonstrations.

A BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, says it is almost certain that the same thing will happen again now.

Seize power

Mr Anwar recently increased pressure on the Malaysian PM Abdullah Badawi when he said he was poised to seize power with the help of government defectors.

Mr Anwar made his claim at a time when the prime minister is already under intense pressure to resign over poor election results and high fuel prices.

Mr Abdullah has said he will leave office in 2010, defying pressure to step down this December.



Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim arrested

Anwar was due to report to police today, but police went to find him first
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been arrested outside his home, his lawyer has said.

Mr Anwar was stopped by several police officers outside his home and taken to police headquarters.

His lawyer said no reason was given for the arrest, which came shortly before Mr Anwar was due to give a statement to police over sodomy allegations.

The former deputy prime minister denies the allegations, which he says are aimed at ending his political comeback.

Armed police

Mr Anwar has been has been in a tense stand-off with police since a former male aide accused him of sodomy two weeks ago.
Police used tear gas and water cannon against Mr Anwar's supporters in 1998

The 60 year-old opposition leader had always been due to report to police on Wednesday, to be interviewed over sodomy allegations.

But police decided not to wait. Mr Anwar was stopped outside the gates of his home on Wednesday morning, by armed police wearing balaclavas.

He was taken to police HQ in a large convoy.

His lawyer and his wife have been seen going into the building.

Mr Anwar's arrest will be seen as provocative by Malaysian opposition groups.

When he was arrested on similar charges 10 years ago, his supporters staged large demonstrations.

A BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, says it is almost certain that the same thing will happen again now.

Seize power

Mr Anwar recently increased pressure on the Malaysian PM Abdullah Badawi when he said he was poised to seize power with the help of government defectors.

Mr Anwar made his claim at a time when the prime minister is already under intense pressure to resign over poor election results and high fuel prices.

Mr Abdullah has said he will leave office in 2010, defying pressure to step down this December.



Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim arrested

Anwar was due to report to police today, but police went to find him first
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been arrested outside his home, his lawyer has said.

Mr Anwar was stopped by several police officers outside his home and taken to police headquarters.

His lawyer said no reason was given for the arrest, which came shortly before Mr Anwar was due to give a statement to police over sodomy allegations.

The former deputy prime minister denies the allegations, which he says are aimed at ending his political comeback.

Armed police

Mr Anwar has been has been in a tense stand-off with police since a former male aide accused him of sodomy two weeks ago.
Police used tear gas and water cannon against Mr Anwar's supporters in 1998

The 60 year-old opposition leader had always been due to report to police on Wednesday, to be interviewed over sodomy allegations.

But police decided not to wait. Mr Anwar was stopped outside the gates of his home on Wednesday morning, by armed police wearing balaclavas.

He was taken to police HQ in a large convoy.

His lawyer and his wife have been seen going into the building.

Mr Anwar's arrest will be seen as provocative by Malaysian opposition groups.

When he was arrested on similar charges 10 years ago, his supporters staged large demonstrations.

A BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, says it is almost certain that the same thing will happen again now.

Seize power

Mr Anwar recently increased pressure on the Malaysian PM Abdullah Badawi when he said he was poised to seize power with the help of government defectors.

Mr Anwar made his claim at a time when the prime minister is already under intense pressure to resign over poor election results and high fuel prices.

Mr Abdullah has said he will leave office in 2010, defying pressure to step down this December.

UPDATEd @9.31PM:

To the MP for Lembah Pantai, NURUL IZZAH, it's Deja Vu back to 1998... VVee the rakyat, caring and peace-loving Malaysians, say:
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND FAMILY. STAY STRONG AND JUSTICE WILL TRIUMPH OVER EVIL.

Here's a daughter's lament, from nurulizzah.com:

Ayah Ditahan
Archived in the category: Website
Posted by izzah on 15 Jul 08 -

Mimpi ngeri berulang lagi..

Kira-kira jam 12.45 tgh tadi, ketika saya menanti kepulangan DSAI untuk kami bersama menemani beliau ke IPK Kula Lumpur, kami telah dikejutkan dengan berita bahawa beliau telah ditahan kurang 50 meter dari rumah kami oleh Polis yang datang bersama Unit Tindakan Khas (UTK), lengkap bersenjata dan bertopeng ala komando. Igauan ngeri peristiwa hitam tahun 1998 berulang lagi. DSAI dilayan seperti penjenayah terrorist. Kerisauan dan kegusaran kami sekeluarga terhadap keselamatan DSAI kini sampai pada puncaknya. Tiada siapa antara kami yang tahu apa akan terjadi seterusnya. Saya seru teman-teman untuk bersama mendoakan keselamatan DSAI pejuang rakyat yang tidak pernah kenal erti putus. Umpama lilin yang membakar diri…

Dad was arrested by the cops whilst on his way to the IPK to give his statement. The cops gave till 2pm for dad to report but still arrested him before the deadline. Dad was on his way back home to have lunch in Bukit Segambut, and then head to the IPK but the cops blocked off the road and arrested him like a criminal. And the cops who arrested him were Special Squad cops with balaclavas!!! Is that necessary!!!

I hope and pray for our nation today. I ask all Malaysians to be calm but strong in this event. I truly do believe our nation’s future rests on what happens in the next weeks.

Please please do not give the authorities any reason to crack down on us. Let us do everything by the book and do what’s right.

And most of all, please pray.

Izzah


Update - Now I hear Raja Petra is going to be arrested as well!

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