VZCZCXRO7538
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #0106/01 0500913
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 190913Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3863
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2921
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0710
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000106 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/MTS AND INR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KJUS MY
SUBJECT: EMPHASIS ON ANWAR CASE SHIFTS FROM COURTROOM TO 
FOREIGN OFFICIALS 
 
REF: KUALA LUMPUR 95 -- FIRST WEEK OF ANWAR TRIAL 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Brian D. McFeeters for reasons 1.4 b 
 and d. 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) The emphasis of Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial shifted 
from the courtroom to international reaction, as a host of 
Malaysian government officials and politicians denounced a 
February 11 statement by Australian MP's condemning the trial 
while issuing frank messages to stay out of this internal 
Malaysian matter.  Malaysian officials responded with a more 
tempered tone to U.S. Senator John Kerry's February 17 
comment urging the GOM to ensure a fair trial for Anwar, via 
press statements rather than directly to Embassy officials. 
The trial itself briefly resumed on February 18 after a six 
day hiatus for the judge to announce his decision to not 
recuse himself, prompting an automatic appeal and an 
adjournment of the trial proper until March 25.  End Summary. 
 
Anwar's Trial Delayed Again 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's trial was 
adjourned on February 12 after Anwar's defense team filed an 
application for Judge Mohamad Zabidan Mohd Diah to recuse 
himself, following allegations of bias stemming from 
Zabidin's failure to cite a government-owned newspaper for 
contempt, or, at a minimum, warn it for factually inaccurate 
reporting.  Judge Zabidan--who decides his own recusal at 
this stage of the application--resumed court on February 18, 
ruling that he has not shown bias and that the trial should 
continue.  The defense was then prepared to cross examine 
witness/accuser Saiful, but this came to an abrupt halt when 
the prosecution cited a case law indicating that an appeal 
over failed applications of recusal is mandatory.  This 
forced Judge Zabidan to delay the trial until March 25, so 
that the Court of Appeals can consider the defense's recusal 
application. 
 
¶3. (C) Comment: It is noteworthy that the request to delay 
the trial came from the prosecution.  The defense had 
initially asked for the trial to resume immediately, since 
there were allegations in the media that the defense was 
stalling for time; it was only when the defense surprisingly 
requested that the trial resume immediately and called 
witness Saiful to the stand that the prosecution requested a 
delay.  Independent bloggers and analysts, most of whom are 
skeptical of the trial, speculated that the prosecution was 
not expecting Saiful to be cross-examined that day, and that 
the primary witness was not mentally prepared for the 
grilling Anwar's defense team would have given him.  The 
government-influenced media has subsequently been reporting 
that this newest five-week delay in Anwar's trial is due to 
Anwar's defense team. When the trial resumes in late March, 
it will likely begin with Anwar's defense team 
cross-examining Saiful.  End Comment. 
 
Anwar's Lawyer Implicates PM Najib, Wife Rosmah 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶4. (U) During a short break in the courtroom on February 19 
while the judge was in chambers, Anwar's chief lawyer Karpal 
Singh -- a prominent leader in the opposition Democratic 
Alliance Party (DAP) and one of Malaysia's most famous 
attorneys -- called the trial a "persecution rather than a 
prosecution", and added that "There is a black hand at play. 
Let me correct myself -- there is not one black hand, but 
two, namely (Prime Minister) Najib and (Najib's wife) 
Rosmah."  Malaysia's two leading independent online news 
portals, the Malaysian Insider and Malaysiakini, both ran 
Karpal's comments as a story, but government-influenced media 
sources did not. 
 
Australian MP's Send Letter of Concern; Backlash Follows 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶5. (U) A group of 50 Australian MP's sent a letter dated 
February 11 to the Malaysian High Commissioner in Australia 
expressing concern over Anwar's trial.  The text follows: 
 
Dear High Commissioner, 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000106  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
We write to you with regards to the trial of Anwar Ibrahim 
which is currently taking place in Kuala Lumpur. 
 
We members of the Australian parliament believe Malaysia is 
an important country, an emerging power in our region, and a 
friend of Australia.  However the trial of Anwar Ibrahim 
raises serious concerns for us. 
 
While Australia and many other countries no longer have laws 
against sodomy we respect the right of Malaysia to determine 
what should be its laws relating to personality morality. 
 
Of more serious concern however is the fact that this trial 
is taking place at all, particularly given the testimony of 
Munawar A. Anees in the Wall Street Journal.  We understand 
that the U.S. State Department has urged Malaysian 
authorities to resolve this matter in a manner that builds 
confidence in the impartial rule of law in Malaysia, and we 
agree with this sentiment.  Many friendly observers of 
Malaysia find it difficult to believe that a leading 
opposition voice could be charged with sodomy a second time, 
and so soon after his party made major gains in national 
elections.  It should be made known to the Malaysian 
Government, that in our opinion, global esteem for Malaysia 
will be affected by these charges against Mr. Anwar.  We hope 
that Malaysia's authorities will not pursue these charges. 
 
Signed, 
 
Members of the Australian Parliament" 
 
(Note: Names of 50 signatories followed.  End Note and 
Statement.) 
 
¶6. (SBU) The statement by the Australian MP's was widely 
denounced by GOM supporters, culminating with a protest held 
at the Australian High Commission on February 17.  Prime 
Minister Najib stated on February 14 that he had ordered his 
Ambassador to Australia to explain the "real situation" to 
the MP's, adding that "I don't think they know the real 
situation."  Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamad said that the 
Australians "should respect our country's sovereignty" and 
that "the world needs to evaluate Anwar's case through 
Malaysia's lens and not their own liberal views." 
 
¶7. (SBU) The February 17 protest, led by UMNO Youth Chief 
Khairy Jamaluddin and Malay rights group Perkasa chief 
Ibrahim Ali, drew several hundred supporters.  Australian 
High Commissioner Penny Williams personally received the 
leaders and formal statement of protest.  In a lengthy 
written statement signed "on behalf of Barisan National (BN) 
Youth and other Malaysian youth organizations present," the 
BN claimed to be "shocked" at the "disregarding of the rule 
of law and trampling upon the sacred principle of sovereignty 
that governs relations between states."  The BN statement 
added that "the trial of a Malaysian -- in a Malaysian court 
under Malaysian law -- falls completely within the sphere of 
Malaysia's domestic jurisdiction."  The BN statement also 
slammed "the insinuation that the charges against Anwar 
Ibrahim were concocted to advance the political goals of the 
Barisan National federal government", calling it "an 
unwarranted and extremely reckless charge that sets a 
dangerous precedent for international relations."  The BN 
statement demanded that 1) the signatories immediately 
retract the letter; 2) that the signatories issue an 
unequivocal apology for disrespecting Malaysia's rule of law 
and sovereignty, and for suggesting that the GOM is 
interfering with the judicial process; and 3) Australian PM 
Kevin Rudd should issue a statement reproaching the actions 
by the 50 MPs, and reaffirm Australia's respect for 
Malaysia's rule of law and sovereignty. 
 
¶8. (C) Poloff spoke with Dr. Katey Mead, a political officer 
in Australia's High Commission to Malaysia, on February 19 
regarding the recent letter and protests.   Mead told Poloff 
that her government's official position on Anwar has been to 
take a "wait and see" approach to the trial before making a 
decision on whether or not to express concern, noting that 
they routinely send diplomatic observers as well as two 
Australian attorneys from the International Bar Association 
to observe the proceedings.  Mead said that despite the 
letter and protests, their position has not changed, and that 
her embassy has subsequently made it clear that the letter is 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000106  003 OF 003 
 
 
from the MPs in their individual capacity and not an official 
position of the Australian government.  She added that there 
are no plans by her government to issue an apology or 
admonish the MPs. 
 
Senator Kerry's Statement and Responses 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) Senator John Kerry released the following statement on 
Anwar's trial on February 17: 
 
"I call on the government of Malaysia, and specifically on 
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to ensure a fair and 
equitable resolution of the legal proceedings currently under 
way against former Deputy Prime Minster Anwar Ibrahim. 
 
It has been over a decade since Anwar's first trial, on 
charges that were later overturned by the Federal Court.  The 
current charges closely mirror the ones levied years ago, and 
have been brought soon after Mr. Anwar's resumption of his 
role as elected Member of Parliament and leader of the 
parliamentary opposition.  I urge the Malaysian government to 
accord Mr. Anwar every legal protection to which he is 
entitled as a Member of Parliament and as a citizen -- and to 
settle his case in a manner that builds confidence in the 
impartiality and credibility of the Malaysian judicial 
system." 
 
¶10. (SBU) Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, speaking to reporters 
in direct response to Senator Kerry's statement, stated on 
February 18 that Malaysia was committed to upholding the rule 
of law, and that the judiciary operated according to the 
standards of any fully developed country.  He noted that "our 
system has the obligation to proceed with this trial, not 
because the accused is a prominent figure, but because it has 
the responsibility to protect all Malaysians under the law." 
He added that "our system honors and respects the 
independence of our courts to find facts and to apply the law 
impartially," adding that an important aspect of Malaysia's 
judicial system was the simultaneous presumption of innocence 
until proven guilty, while concurrently protecting the rights 
of the accuser and the accused.  UMNO Youth Leader Khairy 
noted that unlike the Australian statement, Kerry's comments 
did not cross the line.  Khairy said that they were "two 
different things," noting this was primarily because the 
Australians insinuated that "the charges were politically 
motivated."  Khairy noted that Kerry's call for a fair 
resolution of the trial reflects the wishes of the Malaysian 
public.  Government owned newspaper Bernama reported on 
February 18 that Malaysia Ambassador to the U.S. Jamaluddin 
Jarjis, currently in Malaysia, also weighed in.  According to 
Bernama, he said that the U.S. government has never 
interfered in the sodomy trial of Anwar Ibrahim, adding that 
Senator Kerry's statement did not reflect the stand of the 
White House. 
KEITH