Mukhriz tells US to butt out
Malaysiakini.com
Jul 21, 2008

Umno Youth today warned off the United States of America to keep out of the internal affairs of Malaysia, especially with regards to the sodomy investigation against PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim.
MCPX

mukhriz mahathir 290508The youth wing's exco member Mukhriz Mahathir said that the US should first "fix the gaping holes in the American judicial system before instructing Malaysia on the rule of law".

"The United States has neither the moral high ground nor the expertise to lecture us on how we conduct our internal affairs," said the youth wing's international and NGO relations bureau chairperson in a statement.

He added that statements coming from US - either made by the state department or by any other foreign party - undermined the sovereignty of Malaysia and the integrity of the Malaysian police.

He was specifically critical of US State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack and Senator Joseph Biden over their remarks into the Anwar sodomy matter.

McCormack had noted that Anwar's arrest last week for the sodomy charge raised serious concerns about the rule of law here.

us senator joe bidenSimilarly, Biden (left) had said that Anwar's arrest was politically motivated.

Biden, chairperson of the powerful US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had urged the government to commit to rule of law and good governance in Malaysia.

‘His rights not violated'

Mukhriz said that McCormack should be reminded that "his country paid absolutely no respect to the doctrine of rule of law when invading Iraq".

He added that Iraq was now a failed state, where the rule of law has ceased to exist.

"Perhaps he should explain the atrocities at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp where prisoners are arrested with no charge yet are tortured inhumanely."

"Anwar was arrested according to the provision of Malaysian laws, interrogated in accordance to proper rules and regulations and was released as soon as the police completed their questioning," he said.

"He was treated just as any criminal suspect would have been, and none of his rights as a detainee were violated," added the Jerlun member of parliament.

Mukhriz's statement today came at the heels of the government's formal protest to the United States over its comments on the investigation into the sodomy allegations, accusing it of meddling in its internal affairs.

Government leaders have also attacked Anwar as a "snitch" for the Americans.

Six-hour questioning session

anwar ibrahim 02 060207Anwar was arrested last Wednesday and taken to police headquarters to undergo a six-hour questioning session before being taken to hospital for a medical examination where he was stripped naked and his private parts measured.

He was released on bail the next day and is required to report back to the police next month.

He was being investigated for allegedly sodomising his former aide.

Anwar has dismissed the accusations as a conspiracy to prevent him from seizing power, and said it was a re-run of events a decade ago when he was slapped with charges widely seen as politically motivated.

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