PR Believes Some BN Reps are For Dropping Sodomy II

From The Edge
by Yong Min Wei

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is optimistic it can get the support of a handful of Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers for its memorandum to call upon the government to drop the “Sodomy II” case against Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a high-ranking official from the opposition pact said.

He said the memorandum would be passed to BN frontbenchers and backbenchers for their consideration, adding that any support from the ruling coalition’s lawmakers would be “meaningful and appreciated” in the wake of Anwar’s sodomy trial that has drawn international concerns and criticisms.

“There are several BN MPs who have verbally agreed to put down their signatures. This is on their own accord and belief. They should not be affected by the party whip system,” the official told The Edge Financial Daily.

Stressing one is greater than none, he said it would not be a futile effort if only a handful of the 137 BN MPs ended up endorsing the memorandum, adding that MPs formed the highest law-making body in the land and must be given freedom to express opinion and concern on Anwar’s sodomy trial.

“We hope to convince BN and independent MPs that supporting the memorandum does not mean they are supporting PR. They are answerable only to themselves,” he said, noting that MPs should view the matter in a rational manner.

An anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) petition spearheaded by PR in late 2008 managed to garner 85 signatures from lawmakers, including three independent MPs and BN’s Hulu Rajang MP Billy Abit Joo.

Meanwhile, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said all 81 PR MPs should have no second thoughts about signing the memorandum, which is expected to be ready this week.

He said the memorandum would not be an academic exercise even if no BN MPs were to support it.

“This (memorandum) is a test of conscience, a sense of accountability,” he said.

Lim, who is Ipoh Timur MP, said the memorandum was an initiative by PR lawmakers and would be submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail once signatures had been gathered.

“I have no idea. I don’t know,” he said when asked if he was confident some BN and independent MPs would endorse the memorandum.

Lim added that it was not necessary now for an emergency parliamentary sitting to discuss Anwar’s sodomy trial since the case had been adjourned to March 25 for re-mention while parliament would reconvene on March 15.

DAP’s international bureau secretary Liew Ching Tong said Anwar was being “prosecuted and persecuted” with a clear objective of disarming him politically.

He added that his sodomy charge should be dropped for Malaysia to mature as a democracy.

“The trial has further eroded Malaysia’s international standing,” said Liew, who is Bukit Bendera MP. He could not tell if BN reps were willing to support the memorandum.