Political High Stakes

First, it was Raja Petra's statutory declaration against the DPM's wife Rosmah and now another allegation has unveiled. PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is accused by Saiful Bukhari Azlan, an aide in his office, for sodomizing him.

Din Merican, an aide of Anwar, posted this on his website:

"My colleagues and I knew that he was planted by the other side. So we kept him under surveillance since the day he turned up in our office just before the March 2008 elections. It was a matter of time and we would have exposed him as someone with links to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister. He knew that the noose was tightening around his neck."

Previously, Anwar was accused of the same offence and was booted out of the cabinet by Dr Mahathir, then Prime Minister of Malaysia. It appears that a continuation of this saga is about to begin. However, do those involved know that the stakes are higher this time?

In the first trial, enough doubt was casted on the prosecution case which resulted in Anwar's aquittal. Human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz observes:

"The need for transparency and accountability is made even more crucial by the allegation by Anwar Ibrahim that he has evidence in hand implicating the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General. The IGP figured in Anwar Round 1 (he was then SAC Musa Hassan)."

I told Singapore TODAY that these two high profile cases are out of the ordinary and require the highest level of investigation and adjudication. These cases implicated two top leaders of the country and will put the credibility of this country and its institutions e.g. police, AG chamber, judiciary and executive at stake.

Hence, those who are investigating the cases, especially the police, must be transparent to the public. Last night, Police CID Chief Bakri Zinin has promised to be apolitical when conducting his work and we will hold him to his promise.

It is very unfortunate that public opinion has been formed on these cases and we have helped to politicize them. Regardless of the outcome of prosecution, divisions are obvious and the impact on our society will be great - both politically and economically.

I have a reason to worry. First, we cannot allow a precedent of using fabrication to bring down any personality or for the purpose of political assassination. Second, if these allegations were found to be true then this society must be proactive enough to change our political landscape and to totally overhaul the political system.

Individuals found guilty of lies or ill malice must be severely punished by the law. I hope those involved know the gravity of these allegations.

We must get to the bottom of the cases. Malaysians deserved better!