Anwar speaking to members of the media during the launching of a book on his prosecution and subsequent release from prison. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday that he will not pursue action against the judges, who decided on his two previous convictions.
However, Anwar said there was a need to correct the ‘injustice and unjust decisions’ over his trials.
“(I think that) If there is any sense of justice, there will also be necessity to correct any inherent wrongs. Therefore the judicial heads must now take the necessary immediate action,” he told reporters when met after the launching of a book on his prosecution and subsequent release from prison.
Written by Australian lawyer Mark Trowell, entitled Anwar Returns: The Final Twist. The Prosecution and Release of Anwar Ibrahim, the book was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also Anwar’s wife.
Anwar was commenting on his former lawyer SN Nair’s statement in the media yesterday who called for an inquiry into his convictions, saying that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had granted a full pardon to Anwar on the basis that there was a miscarriage of justice.
According to Nair, it must then naturally follow that all judges who convicted Anwar on the three charges were guilty of not dispensing justice according to the law and had failed to uphold their judicial oath.
Anwar, 71, was sentenced to five years in February 2015 following his conviction for sodomy.
In May after the Pakatan Harapan won the 14th Generel Election, Anwar received a full royal pardon with his convictions expunged from the records.
In 2000, Anwar was sentenced to nine years imprisonment over alleged abuse of power and sexual misconduct.
On another note, Anwar said his legal team had made an application on the alleged RM9.5 million payment to lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah pertaining to the sodomy case involving his personal aide.
“I hope the courts will not delay this case. We will bring up the issue of the frivolous decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Federal court. If there is a sense of justice and to correct the inherent wrongs, then the judicial heads now must take remedial action.
“We have already applied to the courts through Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s case of receiving RM9.5 million, and through that the court’s frivolous decision will naturally be brought up,” Anwar said.
The PKR de facto leader was referring to the allegations that Muhammad Shafee had received the money in two tranches from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Earlier in his speech, Anwar said there was a need to review cases of individuals charged under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 as well as its legal framework.
He said that although there was a definite need to be tough against terrorism or perpetrators of terrorist acts, it does not justify their treatment in prison.
“Such prisoners face solitary confinement, without adequate access to their families and lawyers… or even to exercise.
“In these instances immediate action ought to be taken… I will speak to Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in due course. The blanket sort of vague range is also questionable, wherein the legal flexibility is such that the authorities can decide without recourse to justice,” he said.
Anwar felt that the treatment of Sosma detainees was far worse than the treatment of Internal Security Act detainees.
“I am not privy to every single case but they need to be reviewed. I don’t think a person should be detained under Sosma just because he wears an Islamic State (IS) shirt. Yes, we should be tough against terrorists but I am referring to how they are treated in prison while the authorities review these cases,” he stressed. — Bernama