King Not Told Beforehand, He Charges : Anwar Sues Mahathir, Challenging Dismissal 
International Herald Tribune
November 14, 1998
Thomas Fuller

Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's ousted deputy prime minister, filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad on Friday, challenging the legality of his dismissal from government.

Mr. Anwar said that the prime minister did not advise the king, as required by the Malaysian Constitution, before dismissing him as deputy prime minister and finance minister on Sept. 2.

The new case could keep Mr. Anwar's plight in the spotlight just as leaders from both sides of the Pacific arrive in Kuala Lumpur next week for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting. His trial on sodomy and corruption charges, which began two weeks ago, has been suspended for the duration of the meeting, from Saturday to Wednesday.

"You don't sack someone and inform the king," Mr. Anwar's lawyer, Karpal Singh, said outside the courtroom where the lawsuit was filed. "Sacking is in the hands of the king on advice, of course, from the prime minister."

In the suit, Mr. Anwar said his appointment as minister by the king had "not been lawfully revoked."

"Accordingly, I am still minister in the Malaysian cabinet," he said.

Although clearly a technicality, Mr. Anwar's lawsuit may resonate among the country's royalty, some of whom remain bitter toward Mr. Mahathir for reducing their powers several years ago.

Mr. Mahathir removed immunity from prosecution for the country's nine sultans and stripped the king, Tunku Ja'afar ibni Abdul Rahman — whose role is largely ceremonial — of the right to delay the signing of bills that have passed through Parliament.

Mr. Karpal, who is one of the country's best known lawyers as well as an opposition member in Parliament, said Mr. Mahathir had eight days to respond to the suit after it was served.

Before political and economic turmoil struck the country, Malaysia had hoped the APEC meeting would be a showcase for the fruits of a decade of rapid economic growth: the Petronas Towers, which are the largest buildings in the world, Southeast Asia's largest airport, and a host of other infrastructure projects that have transformed Kuala Lumpur into a world-class capital.

Instead, Malaysia's urban feats have been overshadowed by its turbulent political landscape, the recent memories of Mr. Anwar's beating in prison and the violent crackdown on street protests.

Mr. Anwar's trial will resume Nov. 23. Seven of 52 prosecution witnesses have taken the stand so far.

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