Malaysia: Sex, lies, murder, and politics

Malaysian politics are sizzling with sex intrigues, murder accusations, scandalous lies and intra-party squabbles.

A few months ago a government minister resigned after admitting he was the person caught in a videotape having sex with a young woman in a hotel. The video was uploaded on the Internet.

Early this month opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was accused of sodomy by his 23-year-old aide. The victim alleged he was sexually assaulted by Anwar up to eight times in various luxury hotels in Paris and Hong Kong. This is the second time the former deputy premier was accused of sodomy. The first case was filed ten years ago and led to Anwar’s imprisonment – although he was later cleared of those charges.

Anwar was briefly arrested before being set free. The details of his arrest were reported by Anwar himself.

Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad believes in the credibility of the new charge against Anwar. Dr. Mahathir writes in his blog:

“Yet can it be that the present Government is so stupid and unimaginative as to use the same ‘ploy’, especially after it was so happy over the release of Anwar? Surely it could come up with another story which would be more credible if it is deliberately plotting or conspiring against Anwar. The probability is that the story is the same because it is genuine.

“Is the present complainant a copycat? Hardly likely. Few would care to make public such a very shameful thing as being sodomised.”

But aside from getting sympathies abroad, Anwar has many supporters in the internet. There are also bloggers who are disappointed that Malaysia is getting worldwide attention through the sodomy case. Mental Jog writes:

“It is really embarrassing to me to see that such news made world headlines. I mean the sodomy charge news. Sodomy in many countries is not illegal. And to me sodomy is something private/personal between 2 persons, why should it be wrong? If we made world headlines such as ‘Anwar arrested for corruption of 1 billion’ or ‘Anwar arrested for being a US spy’ – these are not so bad but for sodomy? Gee, we will be made a laughing stock in the world!”

Anwar has a bombshell of his own. He organized a press conference at which a private investigator revealed that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak had sex with a 28-year-old Mongolian model who was brutally murdered in 2006. The model was shot twice in the head and her body was blown up with plastic explosives. Najib denied having an affair with the woman.

Najib’s close associate was accused of abetting the murder. A prominent Malaysian blogger also wrote that Najib’s wife was present when the Mongolian model was murdered. The blogger was subsequently charged with sedition and criminal defamation.

It is apparent that all of these accusations and counter accusations are politically motivated. Najib insists Anwar used a desperate tactic to divert the people’s attention from his sodomy case. On his part, Anwar believes the sodomy charge was part of a government maneuver to defeat the plan of the opposition to seize power this year.

Before the sex scandals, Malaysia was already facing a political crisis. Last March the opposition managed to secure one-third of the parliamentary seats. Five states were put under their control. Some member parties of the ruling coalition threatened to withdraw support for the prime minister.

Before the sex scandals, Malaysians were talking about the country’s faltering economy. Fuel subsidies were removed, which led to higher oil prices. Big protests were held in different parts of the country. Many people, including the frustrated sections of the middle class, began to question the economic policies of the government which they blamed for the rising cost of living in Malaysia.

Today Malaysians are more interested in the sodomy case and other sex scandals involving influential persons. The economic crisis is still a major issue, but sex and murder will always tickle the people’s imagination. Even non-political bloggers are expressing their views about the issue.

The political crisis in Malaysia’s leadership has angered many young Malaysians, especially bloggers. The Other Malaysia points out that other issues are being ignored:

“Whether in or out of jail, Anwar has resumed his status as martyr and public hero. While this may work in the favour of Anwar and other politicians in the country, other serious issues like economic and institutional reform have been sidelined once again. But this time it is not just Anwar and his reputation that is on trial, but also that of Malaysia and Malaysia's legal and judicial systems as well.”

Lilian is fed up with the lies spewed by politicians:

“Is Anwar making up tales like a recalcitrant, moronic kid or is the Government trying to shove shits into us? I am really sick of this news because the whole world is probably laughing silly at how stupid our people are because we do not even know if Saiful had enjoyed his rendezvous as a willing partner or was he being tied down?

“We think it is not funny anymore. We are like a lawless country now. No justice, no fairness, no law, no rules, no authorities.”

Mahaguru58 warns that:

“If someone like Anwar can be made into political mincemeat by these conspirators, what guarantee is there for the safety and wellbeing of any ordinary Ahmad, Ah Seng or Samy?

“We can't afford to be mere spectators of this killing field of a politician called Anwar Ibrahim but be ready to voice out against blatant abuses of justice and due process of the law. If it can happen to Anwar, it can happen to just anybody here in Malaysia.”

MageP's Lab explains the political and economic problems of Malaysia:

“Malaysia itself is like a drama where new chapters unfolded and there is never a single day without fresh conspiracy theories and accusations, worse, for a certain political advantage, every single soul in this country is inconvenienced. Prior to that, Malaysia stocks fell to a 16-month low, our Ringgit slumped the most in two weeks, investors left the domestic scene in a lurch and many more explosive allegations never cease to plunge the country into crisis mode.”

Straight Talk exclaims, “Stop it!” and he adds:

“Is there law and order in the country? Is there transparency in our justice system? Is there a credibility gap or wedge between the people and the government? Can we correct our battered public image?

“Governments around the world are focused on fighting inflation, social-economic challenges and other challenges including job creation but ours is busy with political assassinations and contestations.

“We have had enough of all these nonsense. I have said that we demand all parties involved to come out clean on everything. It is disappointing to note that politicians, who wanted our mandate to rule, after getting the mandate are neglecting their responsibility.”

12 comments

  • Well said man, it’s a great summary

    “The model was shot twice in the head and her body was blown up with plastic explosives.”

    I also appreciate you for linking me up, Thank You! Really in need of more audience and input on my blog.

  • […] Les mer: Global Voices Online […]

  • Unless the political people use their powers responsibly & legitimately, it is hard for them to enforce law. This is a tragedy of many countries that their political representations are full of corrupt people.

  • well Anwar is trouble – and his behaviour 10 years ago shoudl be enough for him to step asside –
    whether he was guilty or not of sodomy- he was guilty of excessive arrogance and stupidy of timing to challenge the status quo!!
    malaysia needs to move forward with young blood and enthusiasm if not from the Dr’s camp- from atleast malaysians that have shown success in teh global village– as the place is a true paradise and is necssary to blend Muslim integration with Asia etc in a sensible way ! so no fanatics please and Anwar was that !!

  • Muhammad Abdallah

    The Malaysian police should go now and arrest Najib the deputy PM of Malaysia. He should be interrogated, and taken to court. He maybe the man who gave instruction to kill Altantuya. He knew her, he had sex with her, he dined with her and maybe many other stories will be found out later.

  • whoever

    undoubtly, malaysia is in grave danger and i dont have to mention it here. but why not the gov be more smart? why not the gov just filter the media news, internal affair whatsoever, control it from the public? should it be more secretive and discreete, then there would be less havoc and maybe the internal problems can be settled.
    i am a malaysian and i hathe the current situation right now. abdullah maybe not as smart as mahathir, but mahathir should not go across the line. he is the ex president so act as an ex president and stop producing controversional issues anymore.as for pak lah, i hope he be more dilligent in his actions and not to naive because being like that makes the country worse. anwar ibrahim may gain his support but i am not sure malaysia under his leadership.
    i hope this politic problems settle quickly.

  • Why make a report only after being sodomised 8 times!! Payment not enough? Or better payment from outside source? Or just paid to do the job – dirty politics. I don’t see any rationality at all at the accusations. Better still, Tun Mahathir( the man who sold his Indian birthright to be Malay and became Prime Minister! ) himself want to have some say. There’s just too much messing up in Malaysia it’s becoming impossible to judge anything. It’s becoming really cheap and of no value. Government machinery needs to be buckled up, but it looks like Malaysia has hit the bucket already… thanks to…??? When will we all come to common terms and live peacefully? Without prejudice? The judiciary department has no power to exercise it’s rights when it comes to politics. Who started that trend? Even the Sultan and Agung had to bow to this guy. What an evil mess we live in…and in the name of keeping peace and harmony.These are the effects the generation today has to pay.

  • Najib? Word has it that a jealous woman ordered Altantuya’s death. Any married couple have experienced it to some degree. Thanks to politics in the court, the whole episode can drag until where they want it to be! Transparency is only where they want it to be – as in Anwar’s case! Malaysian integrity system is really screwed up. I’m really in the dark.

  • mohan

    Sad but true, Malaysians are draped in rumours, scandals, attacks and the lot by so called leaders, each pointing at the other. All these taking center stage while citizens struggle in pain over rising cost.These leaders staging an opera to take our off the cost factor.The ultimate winners will definetely be these politicians,

    A word of advice to fellow Malaysians, Ignore Politics and its actors for the time being,stop them from using us as their stooges.

    Signed: MOLI

  • […] past year was also a period of escalating domestic political upheavals in the region. Malaysia’s opposition party managed to secure several more seats in the Parliament during the elections last March. Party […]

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