Bruno Manser Fund condemns Malaysia over Anwar appeal

Bruno Manser Fund condemns Malaysia over Anwar appeal

Malaysian prosecutors persecute the political opposition while ignoring high-level government corruption

The Bruno Manser Fund condemns Malaysia’s Attorney General for appealing against the acquittal of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on sodomy charges. Anwar was cleared earlier this month of charges he had sex with a young male former aide by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

It is unacceptable that Malaysian prosecutors are making themselves part of a politically motivated persecution of the opposition while they neglect their duties by ignoring high-level corruption of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Last December, an international NGO coalition urged the Malaysian Attorney-General, the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission and the Inspector General of Police to take action against Sarawak Chief Minister Adbul Taib Mahmud („Taib“) for corruption, abuse of power and realted charges. The Malaysian prosecutors did not even bother to acknowledge receipt of the registered letter.

Research by the Bruno Manser Fund had shown that the Taib family has formed one of South East Asia’s largest and most detrimental corruption network, causing Malaysia material losses of several billion US dollars. The inner circle of the Taib family are holding stakes in over 400 companies in 25 states and offshore consitutencies worldwide. Corruption, illegal logging and the grabbing of native lands are the primary sources of this network of corruption.

The Bruno Manser Fund urges the international community to strongly condemn the Malaysian prosecutors’ stand in the Anwar case.

ENDS

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