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On 22 September, 1998, Mahathir commented that Anwar was arrested under the ISA because he incited riots, but he would appear in court to answer charges of sexual misconduct. On the same day, the Deputy Home Minister Datuk Tajol Rosli Mohd Ghazali confirmed that anwar would be produced in court within a week and charged with a dozen counts of sex-related offences.

On 19 September 1998, Anwar's

adopted brother Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja and Anwar's Pakistani friend Dr Munawar Ahmad Aness were each sentenced to six months' jail for allowing Anwar to sodomise them. Some people are suspicious of the ways with which these two were detained and produced in court. On 22 September 1998, a magistrate court freed Anwar's former private secretary Mohamed Azmin Ali who was detained on 16 September 1998.
Anwar was alleged to have a child by Azmin's wife, Shamshida Taharin.

Yesterday, Mahathir admitted that he brushed aside allegations of sexual misconduct against Anwar for many years. "I even put aside information provided by former Inspector-General of Police Tun Mohd Hanif Omar, who retired in 1994," he added.

"Yes, I was told about this before he (Hanif) retired. But I chose not to believe because I found it hard to believe that of a man who projects himself as a religious person," the Prime Minister retorted.

Let the court be just so that Anwar can defend himself. There should be the due process of law.

Malaysia can hold major sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games and even the Olympics. Similarly, we can also show the world that our judicial system is really independent.

By Dr Tan Seng Giaw