Gunfight at the DBP Corral...

This is worrisome!:(

From the NST Online, the header read:

2008/07/15

ANWAR'S NO SHOW AT POLICE HQ: Arrest warrant may be next step

From the print edition which I paid RM1.20 for at breakfast because I need a physical copy as "evidence", the NST page 6 ran this header minus the main one above:

Arrest warrant may be next step




KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's no-show at the city police headquarters yesterday to have his statement recorded could result in a warrant of arrest being issued against him.

Criminal lawyers told the New Straits Times that the de facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader could also be charged for disobeying an order from a public servant, an offence punishable with jail and a fine.

Anwar was supposed to turn up at city police headquarters at 2pm yesterday to have his statement recorded regarding a sodomy complaint filed by a former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Police have recorded statements from more than 20 witnesses and on Sunday sent a notice to Anwar's house, requiring him to be present at police headquarters the following day. He did not show up.

Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Bakri Zinin, in a hastily-called press conference yesterday afternoon, said no notification was given by Anwar, or his lawyers, on the no-show. "We had informed them officially of the date and place in accordance with the law and procedure.

"A verbal confirmation reply was received from them but unfortunately Anwar did not turn up. Also, from 6am until 3.30pm yesterday, no notification was received.

"We have several options now," said Bakri without elaborating.

Meanwhile, lawyers said police must strictly follow the Criminal Procedure Code if Anwar failed to turn up to give a statement.

They said police had no other option except to adhere to the provisions of Section 111 of the CPC. Under the provisions, the investigating officer may order a witness in writing to give a statement.

The witness is required to meet the officer at a particular time and date, failing which the officer could report the matter to a magistrate, who could issue a warrant of arrest to secure attendance of the witness.

"The investigating officer will have to give reasons to the magistrate to obtain the warrant," said lawyer Datuk V. Sithambaram.

Lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said police must personally serve the warrant on the person whose statement was required.

"If the person does not turn up despite the warrant, then he can be charged," Hisyam said.

DESIDERATA: I was a diehard cowboy addict in my younger days, now less because of tempering by the vagaries of life and wayward human interactions -- but I still retain some romantic notions of "riding that horse into the sunset in a blaze of gory!" --

So writHing wit' diminishing remnants of romance in my HE--he:)he:):)art?), I recall with more than a tinge of sadness for legends such as Alan Ladd depicing SHANE and Gary Cooper depicting the lovelorn Sheriff in HIGH NOON, it lifted my fluttering youthful heart those olde days it's always the triumph of the Good over the Bad.

But in the upcoming debate arranged by the web portal Agenda Daily for the FUEL DUEL between Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Shabery Cheek, I was pondering at the probability that much more is at stake, in view of the "Arrest warrant..." news report above. I fear there's another impending Gunfight at the Dewan Bahsa dan Pustaka Corral as the last hues of red, orange and yellow set over the western horizon, someone is going to be blasted.

I am not optimistic because most Malaysian leaders have not learnt the core messages of the electorate of March 8,2008 -- the RAKYAT demand from the Government and Opposition leaders greater freedom of speech,and democratic practice; more openness and transparency in governance; and chief of all, a Judiciary whose integrity is beyond question, and a Police force whose impartiality and respect for The Rule of Law is also beyond any shadow of a doubt.

I am very afraiad for NegaraKu.
Maybe only the Great One Above -- however you deem Him to be -- is the only redeemer of man's folly and deviousness.

I rest and say:

I:
S:
A: men.