Court Postpones Trial Of Anwar Indefinitely   
International Herald Tribune
November 16, 1999
Thomas Fuller

Lawyers for Anwar Ibrahim said Monday that their client's high-profile sodomy trial had been postponed indefinitely.

The suspension of the case removes Malaysia's best-known dissident from the public eye two weeks before the country holds national elections that will test the popularity of the government of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, who dismissed Mr. Anwar last year.

"We were faxed a notice from the court on Saturday," said Pawancheek Marican, one of Mr. Anwar's lawyers. "It said the trial is postponed indefinitely. No reasons were given."

Allies of Mr. Anwar immediately criticized the postponement, saying it had political overtones.

"A very desperate Mahathir is now telling the world that he is again using the instruments of power, including the judiciary, for his political survival," said Mohamad Ezam Mohamad Nor, a top official of the National Justice Party, which was formed this year by Mr. Anwar's wife, Azizah Ismail.

"He's afraid that any further exposures from Anwar's testimony will jeopardize his chances," Mr. Ezam told The Associated Press.

The election is set for Nov. 29. Mr. Anwar is the opposition's choice for prime minister should Mr. Mahathir be defeated.

Mr. Anwar, who is serving a six-year term after being sentenced in April for abuse of power, is currently on trial for sodomy, a charge he says was concocted by his political enemies.

In recent weeks, Mr. Anwar has identified the politicians he maintains were responsible for his removal from government and has accused government ministers of graft and other crimes.

"His testimony put a spotlight on corruption and abuses of power," said Lim Kit Siang, one of Mr. Anwar's allies in the coalition of parties challenging Mr. Mahathir for power.

"He has now been silenced as far as the election is concerned," he added. "Suddenly, justice becomes secondary."

The suspension of his trial also limits Mr. Anwar from meeting with his political allies.

"He can only see lawyers and his family," Mr. Pawancheek said. "He cannot meet his friends and supporters."

Mr. Anwar is considering running for election from prison, his allies said. But it remains unclear whether that will be allowed by the election commission. Mr. Anwar's conviction in April disqualifies him from serving in Parliament and bars him from seeking office for five years from the date of his release.

But he has appealed the April conviction, making the matter open to interpretation

Until last year, Mr. Anwar was Mr. Mahathir's hand-picked successor. But the two men had a falling out, and following Mr. Anwar's dismissal from government, he was charged with sodomy and abuse of power.

Mr. Anwar remains popular in the country, but few Malaysians, including some of his closest political allies, believe he can topple Mr. Mahathir.

The prime minister leads a well-entrenched coalition of parties that has been in power since independence in 1957 and has control over such key institutions as the press.

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