Australia told speak up on Anwar case
AAP
October 3, 2014, 7:44 pm
Senator Nick Xenophon has said Malaysia s opposition leader is facing a travesty of justice. AAP
Australia is being challenged to speak up on behalf of Malaysia's opposition leader as he faces "a travesty of justice" and the prospect of prison this month.
Anwar Ibrahim is appealing a highly controversial sodomy conviction, and one of his lawyers has been charged with sedition for saying the scandal is politically motivated.
Mr Anwar, too, is under further investigation, accused of making seditious comments in a political speech.
His October 28 appeal of the sodomy conviction could see political tensions erupt in Malaysia.
On Friday, he met with his friend, Australian Independent Nick Xenophon, in Jakarta. They chose the venue after Senator Xenophon's attempt last year to visit him in Kuala Lumpur saw him detained and deported.
Senator Xenophon says if Australia is any kind of friend to Malaysia, it will speak up.
"This is a travesty of justice," he told reporters in Jakarta.
"It feels like Anwar has more charges against him than Mohammad Ali has had punches. It is a very serious issue."
Mr Anwar agreed Malaysian authorities "on direction from the government" were determined to see him behind bars.
In his 2011 speech, he says, he said the words "fight the evil government". That was now being considered sedition.
"I convey my appreciation to Senator Nick Xenophon and my friends here who conveyed their concern for me," he said.
Senator Xenophon said he also remained concerned about the voter irregularities he had wanted to examine last year when he was detained.
"I think unofficially, it's expected that the real vote was much greater for the Malaysian opposition," he said.
"So, this is the man who should be the Prime Minister of Malaysia today," he said, referring to Mr Anwar.
Critics of Malaysia's sedition laws say they are too open to abuse for moves like attacking opposition voices.
