Warrant issued for Anwar's arrest
Updated
Malaysia's opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim has used rare airtime on state television, to attack the government for a sharp rise in fuel prices, even as he braced for possible arrest over sodomy allegations.
The former deputy prime minister debated Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek in a 60-minute session, shown 'live' on Malaysian television, and broadcast by three stations. The debate took place, as Anwar's lawyer said police had informed him a warrant had been issued for Anwar's arrest.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Sankara Nair legal counsel for Anwar Ibrahim
LAM: Sankara Nair, we'll go to the remarkable television debate later, but first of all, tell us more about the arrest warrant, what can you tell us?
NAIR: They (the police) are kind of vague about the whole thing. A letter was sent to my office after we have earlier agreed on a gentleman's agreement to produce the client, that is to say, Anwar. And then they later decided to opt for the legal process by issuing a certain order of the police and we waited for the order, but it wasn't served on him. And later we decided, that we would wait for you to call us again and they called. And we were supposed to go there tomorrow in fact. And then they changed their mind again and sent a letter. And in the letter they say that is where Anwar must come at this particular time to the police station, that is today at two.
They also put in a second line, an arrest warrant has been issued. So it is kind of unclear, as to whether they are issuing the warrant on the basis of non-appearance or there is already a warrant of arrest in respect of the charge that they are going to... umm
LAM: Has your client been uncooperative in anyway? Surely a warrant would not be needed if Anwar just went to police headquarters on his own accord?
NAIR: This is the problem here. They don't want to tell us what is the warrant for, because in its way, sometimes in a case of a seizable offence, as you call it, where he can be arrested without warrant, they do get a warrant just to play safe. So it's unclear to what. And we have never said, and Anwar has never said he won't go. It's just that they have changed the rules in between, and that is confusing. That's basically the problem.
LAM: The Home minister Syed Hamid Albar says police also want a DNA sample from Datuk Seri Anwar. Do you know whether your client has given one?
NAIR: No, we have not been contacted since lately and on Saturday last, about to come into the police station and to present himself, for questioning I presume. But again, they are giving mixed signals as well, if there are going to be questioning or an arrest, so it's still unclear to us. But we are ready to go and see the police today at 2 o'clock.
LAM: Are you satisfied though that all due investigation procedures are being followed by the police?
NAIR: Thus far, I think they have acted quite professionally. They have not bothered my client until Saturday or sorry Sunday. That otherwise they have acted quite professionally.
LAM: Anwar of course has indicated that he plans to take power by September through defections by ruling Barisan mps. Do you agree with the sentiment in some quarters that the government is playing dirty?
NAIR: According to Anwar, yes of course this could be applied to get him to shut up, to get him away from the whole scenario.
LAM: Yes, well Keadilan has warned that its supporters will take to the streets if Anwar is arrested. Do you think mass protests will happen if Anwar were, er, if an arrest warrant were issued for him?
NAIR: I don't think so, because if there are due process of law that has to be followed. I don't see why Anwar would want to organise or call for something like that. I don't think it will happen.
LAM: And yet the market was down by one and a half per cent yesterday. All this uncertainty surely is bad for the economy. Are you satisfied though that you and your client are being as cooperative as you can with the police?
NAIR: We are very cooperative. It is just that there has been some confusion in respect of the manner in which they wanted to approach us, that's all there is to it. We are absolutely cooperative.
LAM: And back to the television debate yesterday, Sankara Nair. What did you make of it? Who did you think won the evening?
NAIR: Er, clearly Anwar won. There was a lot of personal attacks on him and he warded them off and he stuck to the agenda that was supposed to be discussed. And I may be considered biased, but I think .. I saw it myself, and I felt there was a lot of substance to what Anwar was saying and which was not easily refuted by the other party.
