The criminal trial, conviction and sentence for former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the second time is another indictment of the system of justice and governance in Malaysia. Although the conviction is not unexpected and even the heavy nine-year jail sentence is not totally unthinkable, their announcements could not dull the sense of outrage and despair of many Malaysians who had hoped that basic decency and elementary justice would govern Malaysian public life.
Today is a sad day, a black day, for democracy and justice in Malaysia.
The Socialist International Asia-Pacific Committee, which was opened and attended by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clarke, was shocked by news of Anwar's conviction and sentence at the close of the proceedings. We therefore express our full solidarity with the SI member Democratic Action Party as it redoubles its efforts under very difficult circumstances, to turn the tide in favour of democratisation and greater respect for justice and political and civil rights.