Political furore follows Anwar's arrest
Updated
The arrest of Malaysia's opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim has set the stage for a political showdown echoing the events of ten years ago.
Presenter: Joanna McCarthy
Speakers: People's Justice Party Information Chief, Tian Chua.
CHUA: Anwar Ibrahim was returning from a session where he recorded a statement with the anti-corruption agency regarding his complaint on the national police chief in involving in misuse of power. And he also had an investigation session with the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters. As he was returning from the anti-corruption agency on his way to the police headquarters he was seized forcefully, arrested and now he has been brought to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.
MCCARTHY: Have any charges been laid at this stage?
CHUA: We are not sure.
MCCARTHY: When do you expect Mr Anwar will be released?
CHUA: I am preparing for the worst that he will not be released and I see this provocative action as a prelude to a mass crackdown on the democratic movement, and also to instill fear back to the public, which for the ruling Barisan Nasional it has become inconvenient and restrictive for the authoritarian power to continue to rule in the authoritarian way.
MCCARTHY: Mr Anwar had been due to attend questioning at 2 pm. Do you know why police moved to arrest him one hour before?
CHUA: As I this is provocative action designed not only to humiliate him but to create fear in the public.
MCCARTHY: Ten years ago it was Mr Anwar's dismissal that triggered the Reformasi movement. What effect do you think these events will have?
CHUA: Well today's events basically is a result of the success of the reformasi. We have seen growing strength of the opposition and as a result opening of the democratic space in the country. But this has frightened, this phenomenon frightened the ruling party, and they are finding ways to crack down.
MCCARTHY: On the question of the crackdown, do you have any indications that opposition members are being targetted for arrest?
CHUA: We are expecting that. We have seen that police have been mobilised on the streets and we have even a joint exercise between the military and the police, and this is unprecedented. And a few of us have been called by police for recording statements with our previous, on our previous demonstrations activities. So all these are signs towards a closing up of the democratic space.
MCCARTHY: And what action are you now asking Mr Anwar's supporters to take?
CHUA: Well I think on one hand of course I think our members will be mobilised to support him, on the other hand we also urge the international community to condemn such action and to remind Malaysia that they should not roll back the clock to authoritarian days of Mahathir.
