Runaway maid raped by 'good Samaritan

An Indonesian domestic worker, who ran away from her employer's house, ended up being raped by the "good Samaritan" who had given her shelter.

The 24-year-old woman met the man when she went to the Immigration Department to surrender herself the day she left her employer's home in Kota Baru, Kelantan.

GP's sex blackmail to get my flu drugs’

Claims ... Patient A

A FAMILY doctor blackmailed a patient with flu into submitting to sex to get medicine, a medical tribunal heard.

GP Gordon Barclay, 68, waved a prescription form at the mother of one and said: "You need that don't you — I need to examine you."

He told her to strip then had full intercourse with her, it was alleged.

The woman, known as Patient A, wept as she told how she was repeatedly molested during intimate examinations between 2003 and 2006 at his surgery in Essex.

Hours before sodomy verdict, Anwar tells supporters to keep the faith

Anwar speaking at his ceramah in Kampung Pandan on January 8, 2012.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim raced across the capital city last night, spending his potential last hours as a free man making his final appeal to supporters to continue fighting for political reform before today’s verdict in his sodomy trial.

The de facto PKR leader pledged to a crowd of close to 5,000 at the final stop in Kampung Pandan here that “Umno leaders may cage my body but not my spirit.” It was his biggest crowd in his whirlwind meet with supporters in the capital city.

Leaping about a stage under the eye of dozens of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders such as DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, he called on supporters to “work hard as a team to save Malaysia.”

Anwar says wants BN to stop personal attacks

Anwar speaking in the comfort of his home on January 9, 2012
after his acquittal by the High Court

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today told Datuk Seri Najib Razak and other Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders to cease what he said were personal attacks against him and his family, saying that political debate should be restricted to policy matters.

He pointed out that he had now been declared innocent by the High Court, and he wanted the attacks against him to stop.

The court today acquitted Anwar of a charge of sodomising his former male aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Judge Datuk Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah ruled that the prosecution had not done enough to prove Anwar had committed sodomy against Saiful.

A private moment in history: Azizah embraces Anwar upon acquittal verdict

Have a look at the 'historical' photos - the main one which was sent out by Nurul Izzah Anwar over Twitter.  The photo captures the emotional moment of Wan Azizah hugging her husband Anwar Ibrahim upon the judge announcing at Kuala Lumpur High Court that Anwar is not guilty of the sodomy charge pressed against him by Prime Minister Najib Razak. The verdict was announced shortly after 9 am, Jan 9, 2012.

Government says Anwar verdict shows courts are free

The government said today that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s surprise acquittal this morning from a politically-charged sodomy charge proves the courts are free from  political manipulation.

“Malaysia has an independent judiciary and this verdict proves that the government does not hold sway over judges’ decisions,” French news agency AFP quoted Information Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim as saying in a statement.

The High Court today acquitted Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of a charge of sodomising his former male aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Despite acquittal, Anwar says ‘remains to be seen’ that courts are free

Anwar (centre) addressing the crowd outside the Kuala Lumpur High
Court soon after his acquittal on January 9, 2012.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today it “took some courage” for the judge in his sodomy trial to acquit him, but he disputed the government’s assertion that it meant the courts were free from political manipulation.

“I recognise and acknowledge the fact that it took some courage on the part of the judge to come up with (the acquittal) ... But to suggest therefore that the judiciary is independent I think it remains to be seen,” he told reporters after his acquittal.

The High Court today acquitted Anwar of a charge of sodomising his former male aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Selangor to discuss Hasan Ali’s replacement Wednesday

Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) Selangor government will decide on Wednesday the replacement for Datuk Hasan Ali as executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs, following his sudden sacking from PAS today.

Faekah Hussin, political secretary to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, confirmed the news today, after getting word from her boss.

“His (Hasan’s) post is on the understanding he is a representative of PAS. His replacement will be submitted to Tuanku Sultan this Wednesday,” she told The Malaysian Insider.

She said the next candidate is also likely to hail from the Islamist party but declined to elaborate on the matter as she was still waiting for the official notice from the PAS leadership.

I was sacked because of Anwar, says Hasan Ali

Datuk Hasan Ali has blamed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his sudden sacking from PAS.

The Selangor lawmaker admitted it was likely due to his remarks about the opposition that got him the boot from the Islamist party, which is part of the state’s ruling Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact.

“Anwar Ibrahim is the reason I was sacked,” the former Selangor PAS commissioner said at news conference at his home here late last night.

Hasan (picture), who is currently still in charge of the state’s Islamic and Malay affairs portfolio as well as public infrastructure and facilities, said his views on Anwar — who has been indicted twice for sodomy — were because he did not want the public to be entrapped in the PKR leader’s political game.

The rise again of reformer Anwar

Anwar leaving court soon after his acquittal.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was once one of Asia’s fastest-rising political stars, a popular reformer whose image fronted Time magazine in 1997 as “The Future of Asia” — a status knocked down a year later when he was charged with corruption and sodomy.

Today, a court acquitted him of second set of sodomy charges in a decision that will continue the remarkable comeback of the charismatic 64-year-old father of six, who first rose to prominence in the 1970s as a student radical.

Anwar had once been tipped to take over from then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. But in 1998, in the wake of a campaign in Malaysia to root out corruption following the Asian financial crisis, his mentor sacked him as deputy prime minister and finance minister and levelled the first set of charges that would derail his ascent.

Explosions outside court after acquittal

The man hurt in one of the blasts is helped by his friends.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — A man was lightly injured in three small blasts outside the Jalan Duta court complex here this morning, right after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted of a charge of sodomy.

The explosives were believed to have been planted in three traffic cones outside the courthouse.

Anwar pledges to topple BN after acquittal

Anwar arriving in court for the verdict of his sodomy trial on January 9, 2012.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today that “justice has been served” after his acquittal in a politically-charged sodomy trial and pledged to topple the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next elections.

“Thank God, justice has been served. I feel vindicated but we still have a struggle. We have to now focus on the general election,” he told reporters after the High Court here acquitted and discharged him of a charged of sodomising his former male aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2009.

Court acquits Anwar, judge says possible ‘samples compromised’

Anwar (centre) is surrounded by press photographers soon after his acquittal.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — The High Court today acquitted Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of a charge of sodomising his former male aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Judge Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah ruled that the prosecution had not done enough to prove Anwar had committed sodomy against Saiful.

“The court could not rule 100 per cent that the DNA samples were not compromised. Without that, the court is reluctant to convict the accused based on the evidence of SP1.

Anwar aquitted: Magnificent show of support stumps police, Najib

In a shock decision, the Najib administration threw in the towel to overwhelming public support for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. The courts, which are under the thumb of Prime Minister Najib Razak's Umno party have acquitted Anwar of sodomy charges. This is in line with prolonged calls from the international diplomatic and business communities as well everyday Malaysians, who are fed up of the brand of manipulative politics pushed by Umno, beginning during the time of former premier Mahathir Mohamad.

"It is thanks to all the brave Malaysians for standing up to be counted this morning. This is not just about Anwar although he is the main figure. But we all know that enough is enough, the rot has gone on for too long. Things are out of control and the people can sense it. Only they can save Malaysia and this morning is the first step," PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

FB friendship blossoms into gay marriage

Thongchai Rattanakaew (R) wed his 30-year-old boyfriend Chumwit
Sudsai in front of their parents and 200 guests

Having found each other on Facebook and after dating for three years, 27-year-old Thongchai Rattanakaew wed his 30-year-old florist boyfriend Chumwit Sudsai in front of their parents and 200 guests in Trang's Huay Yot district Saturday.

Chumwit's mother, Jinda Sudsai, said she had known her son was homosexual since he was young, but she had never criticised him because he was a good person and didn't cause any problems to society.

She also encouraged him to join beauty contests, eventually leading to his victory in the Miss Krabi Fairies 2011 title, she said.

‘No roadblocks on Monday’

But police have advised all road-users with no 'important errands' to stay away from the areas leading to the Jalan Duta courts.

The police today advised the public to avoid certain roads in the city next Monday ahead of the 901 rally in support of Anwar Ibrahim at the Jalan Duta Court Complex parking lot.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court will be delivering its verdict on Anwar’s sodomy trial on Monday.

Kuala Lumpur traffic chief ACP Rosli Mohd Noor said that road users without any important errands should stay away from these areas as congestions are expected to build up from as early as 7am.

How will the scales of justice move?

The decision to give the green light for the rally tomorrow is just one more propaganda act by the government

Jan 9, 2012, will make history, for more reasons than one. It is tomorrow that the justice system will reveal its ‘true colours”.

Will the decision disposed in the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy II trial favour the “truth” or will it be partial, in the interest of the ruling government, Barisan Nasional?

As it stands, the BN leadership has spared no effort in character assassinating Anwar and “sealing” his political fate. Humiliation, condemnation and the butt of jokes, Anwar has been at the receiving end of the BN brutality for a long time now.

Anwar prepared for jail on verdict eve

Anwar echoed many political observers in saying a guilty verdict would boost the opposition in the long run.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said Sunday he was prepared to go to jail as he geared up for last-ditch rallies on the eve of a trial verdict that threatens his political career.

Anwar, 64, has toured the country in the past week, whipping up crowds of supporters with fiery speeches denouncing sodomy charges against him as a government frame-up aimed at neutralising him politically.

He was due to address supporters at his Kuala Lumpur home Sunday night, followed by a pair of separate rallies ahead of the following morning’s highly anticipated verdict announcement.

Soi Lek renews warning to Pakatan’s Chinese support

Dr Chua maintains support for PR will see the Chinese society being shut out from the corridors of power.

Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek today restated his warning that the Chinese society would be left without representation in the government if it only supported opposition parties.

The MCA president, who pledged last April to pull the party out of all government posts if it did not improve on its Election 2008 performance, repeated his assertion that Chinese support for DAP’s “two-party system” would “become a two-race system.”

Don’t let outsiders in on Hasan Ali row, Nasrudin tells PAS leaders

PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan asked his party leadership to resolve the row surrounding Datuk Hasan Ali properly and without outside interference.

Nasrudin told The Malaysian Insider today that the former Selangor commissioner’s recent remarks over tomorrow’s “901 rally” in support of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that “went against the flow” were the latter’s personal views.

“Translated into an organisation such as PAS, it means that whatever problems that arise must be resolved properly and wisely by party leaders who must take stern action and with authority so as not to spoil the reputation,” Nasrudin (picture) said.

Police say PKR agreed to rally conditions

Mohmad Salleh (left) and Azmin are disputing each other’s version of their Friday meeting.

City police today insisted PKR had agreed to the 10 conditions set out for its rally tomorrow in support of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when he learns the verdict of his two-year long sodomy trial.

Head of Kuala Lumpur police Datuk Mohamad Salleh told reporters today PKR deputy president Azmin Ali was not being truthful when he said the conditions were not agreed to during their meeting on Friday.

“Azmin Ali’s denial is untrue. The conditions were based on our agreement. There were no changes,” he said, adding that PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin had signed an agreement listing down the conditions.

Sodomy II to ‘test’ Malaysia’s zeal to democracy and rule of law, says Washington Post

Anwar(right) arrives at the KL High Court at Jalan Duta for his sodomy trial December 12 2011

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II case is a “test” of Muslim-majority Malaysia’s commitment to democracy and rule of law, according to the Washington Post.

 The well-read and respected US daily has joined a growing choir criticising its president Barack Obama for his administration’s “weak” stand in the prosecution of the Malaysian opposition leader.

The newspaper said Anwar has become one of the best advocates for liberal democracy in the Muslim world.

Nazri: Free Anwar rally an attempt to influence the court

Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz accused organisers of tomorrow’s rally in support of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of trying to influence the verdict of the opposition leader’s sodomy trial.

The minister in the prime minister’s department said that he disagreed with the police’s decision to allow the assembly to take place.

“This is something that has never been done before in any other country, where people assemble and protest against a court which is about to make a decision. To me it is an attempt to influence the court to make a decision to favour Anwar.

“You cannot allow popularity to exist in our legal system because what will happen is that those who are popular will never get convicted by the court,” the de facto law minister was quoted as saying by The Star.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali is leading a march tomorrow which he says will amass over 100,000 people in support of the party’s de facto leader.