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The sacking of Anwar Ibrahim Call on Malaysians to remain calm over the shock waves caused by the removal of Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. | |||||||
| On 2 September 1998, the Prime Minister's Department issued a terse statement with three short paragraphs, announcing that Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim was released from his posts as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister with effect from 5.30 PM. on the same day. On 3 September 1998, an affidavit filed in the Kuala Lumpur High Court was unusually made public with charges of sexual misconduct, murder and corruption against Anwar. In the evening, Anwar attended the Umno Supreme Council meeting that decided to expel him from the party. On the other hand, Anwar denied all the charges and vowed to go on a road show to explain his position. He believed that there was a political conspiracy to get rid of him. He suspected that he would be detained. Anwar was taken into Umno and promoted by the Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the past 16 years and four months. Somehow something has happened. The Prime Minister has not divulged the details. The series of events has sent shock waves throughout the country. This has come after Malacca Member of Parliament, MP, Lim Guan Eng, was jailed on 25 August 1998 under the Sedition Act. | |
The Government maintains that ours is a parliamentary democracy and that there is a rule of law. Hence, the people expect that the judiciary is independent. On 4 September 1998, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and MP for Tanjong, Lim Kit Siang called for an emergency Parliament to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct, murder and treason against Anwar. It is true that in other countries such as Russia and Japan, ministers are often sacked. In Malaysia, removal from offices of Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers by the Prime Minister is extraordinary. At a time when there is an economic crisis, the Prime Minister has preempted his removal of Anwar from the latter's posts by imposing capital controls, pegging the ringgit against American dollar at RM3.8. Obviously, Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir has taken a calculated risk. If he succeeds in turning the economy around, then he will be in a stronger position. We hope that the people will keep calm and that the Government will allow for the due process of law. A person is innocent until proved guilty. Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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