FAC News - Wednesday, March 12, 2003 11:50 AM

Confirmed: High-level conspiracy to prevent Anwar’s release

Last Thursday, acting National Justice Party (keADILan) Youth Chief, Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, hand-delivered a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Norian Mai, seeking a police permit to gather in front of Sungai Buloh Prison to greet Anwar Ibrahim upon his release from prison on 14 April 2003.

“When Lim Guan Eng was released from the Kajang Prison, 3,000 Democratic Action Party (DAP) and opposition leaders and supporters greeted him,” said Zahid.

“Also, when Mahfuz Omar (PAS Youth Leader) and Sallehuddin Ayub (PAS Deputy Youth Leader) were released from the Kajang Prison, around 5,000 people assembled there to greet them.”

“So why can’t we too assemble in front of the Sungai Buloh Prison to greet Anwar’s release from prison?” asked Zahid.

“Over the next five weeks leading to April 14, we are traveling the length and breadth of Malaysia explaining to the people why Anwar could and should be released on 14 April,” explained Zahid.

“We are also revealing to the people that there is political interference at the highest level to prevent Anwar’s release on 14 April.”

At a rally at the Pusat Tarbiyah PAS in Taman Melawar, Kuala Lumpur, last Thursday, Zahid, and one of Anwar’s lawyers, Zulkifli Nordin, revealed the secret meeting that was held in the Prime Minister’s office in Putra Jaya.

“On Friday, 14 February 2003, I went to the Sungai Buloh Prison to meet Anwar Ibrahim,” said Zulkifli, “And I discovered that Anwar’s release papers had already been signed, and that the date of release as stated on the release papers is 14 April 2003.”

“Normally, these release papers are issued only a week or so before the due date for release but, in Anwar’s case, it had been signed two months ahead.”

“Anwar has been jailed six years on his first conviction of corruption,” explained Zulkifli. “However, after a one-third remission, he will be due for release on 14 April 2003.”

“The Director of Prisons probably suspected there would be political pressure exerted on him to not grant Anwar the one-third remission. Therefore, instead of risking signing the release papers a week before the date of release, he decided to sign it two months earlier.”

“On Monday, 17 February 2003, when they discovered that Anwar’s release papers had already been signed, they called for an emergency meeting at Putra Jaya around lunchtime,” revealed Zulkifli.

“In that meeting were Rais Yatim (the de facto Law Minister), Zainal Abidin Zin (the Deputy Home Minister), the Chief Justice, the High Court Judges, and the Appeal Court Judge.”

“The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how to prevent Anwar’s release on April 14.”

“At 4.32pm…we know the exact time, it was at 4.32pm…they then went over to the Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s office,” added Zulkifli.

“In this second meeting were also the Inspector-General of Police, Norian Mai, and the head of the Special Branch.”

“This second meeting went on till night.”

“The next day, 18 February, the court quickly issued a letter fixing Anwar’s judicial review on 18 March. Then, on 24 February, they issued another letter fixing Anwar’s appeal hearing on 24 March.”

“After such a long delay and after ignoring the numerous letters we sent them, they are suddenly rushing to complete all Anwar’s hearings before 14 April.”

“Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was supposed to go on two months leave in early May. However, because of this Anwar issue, he decided to bring forward his leave so that he need not be in the country during the period of 14 April.”

“Because of this high-level conspiracy, Anwar may not, after all, be released on 14 April. They will find ways to keep him in jail beyond 14 April.”