Dr. Mahathir's blog

Dr. Mahathir's blog
Malaysian government used to discourage blogging. But the government has since changed its stance. The new postion is due, partly to the unrelenting attitude of the bloggers and partly to the benefits the government sees in blogs. Now, officials have become advocates of blogging. They encourage citizens to register their complaints and suggestions at government blogs. Besides the government's blogs, virtually everyone who has anything worthwhile to say has a blog.
There's the blog of the radical journalist, Raja Petra Kamarudin who accused the Deputy Prime Minister's wife of being an accomplice in the murder of a foreign translator. On his blog, which he calls 'the blog of my life' Kamarudin writes news pieces that Nigerian journalists will cringe to read, let alone write. You can read of more Kamarudin's thoughts at http://wordpress.com/tag/raja-petra-kamaruddin-malaysia-today/.
But the most attention grabbing blog is that of Dr. Mahathir Muhammad, the former Prime Minister. Dr. M is the fiercest critic of the government and unlike the irritating equivocations of our former leaders; Dr. Mahathir has a position on every issue. His blog – chedet.com – is a major source of news for journalists. I've reproduced one of the pieces on his former deputy below.

The Anwar Debate
I must congratulate the Government of Dato' Seri Abdullah Badawi for allowing the debate between the Opposition and the Government, specifically between Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Dato Shabery Cheek.

2. It was not an even match. Shabery is far too inexperienced in a field that Anwar excels i.e. talking. The subject naturally puts the Government on the defensive.

3. Shabery's reference to what Anwar said about me in the past undermined Anwar's credibility somewhat. But it was obvious that Shabery was nervous.
4. As I said, Anwar can be convincing in his arguments especially with those who want to believe in him. The Western Press has already concluded that this accusation against Anwar is the same old political plot to prevent him from becoming the Prime Minister.

5. The last time it was I who was the prime mover. Dato' Seri Abdullah has denied he is involved this time, but the Western Press and the American friends of Anwar will not be convinced and will not let him get off the hook.

6. Yet can it be that the present Government is so stupid and unimaginative as to use the same "ploy", especially after it was so happy over the release of Anwar? Surely it could come up with another story which would be more credible if it is deliberately plotting or conspiring against Anwar. The probability is that the story is the same because it is genuine.

7. Is the present complainant a copycat? Hardly likely. Few would care to make public such a very shameful thing as being sodomised. In fact, the last time at least two people came to see me claiming they were sodomised by Anwar. But they were unwilling to make a report or be witnesses in court. One of them, however, did see the imam of Masjid Negara (now Member of Parliament for PAS), to seek advise on the religious angle.

8. There are certain habits which are not easy to be rid off. Habitual smokers will tell you that. So will drug addicts.

9. It is of course up to the courts to decide i.e. if this case finally reaches the court. The court may find Anwar guilty. In which case he would appeal to even higher courts and even to special courts, which can be set up for him.

10. If he could make out that Saiful is a willing partner, then as in the case of Azizan, Saiful's claims would not be regarded as proof beyond doubt. Anwar would be let off.

11. Anwar has practically refused to swear on the Quran on his claim to be innocent. But Saiful is quite willing to do so in a mosque witnessed by religious people.

12. But a certain Mufti is opposed to this. If a person is innocent why shouldn't he swear and clear his name.

13. The reference made to "qazaf" or malediction is a red herring. It is a threat levelled at the accuser that if he cannot provide the necessary witnesses then he can be accused of "fitnah" and punished by whipping.

14. There is in the Quran a lot of stress on justice. Repeatedly (at least 43 verses), the Quran enjoins that "when ye judge, judge with justice".

15. The syariah is not just about the procedures when making judgement and the punishment that is to be meted out. The syariah laws are meant to ensure that justice is done. It would be invidious if the victim is punished (because he cannot find four witnesses to the act) while the assailant is let off scott-free. It would be a gross injustice. It cannot be that Islamic Law disregards justice and is only concerned with trial and punishment.

16. In the Quran it is related that Zulaikha who was infatuated with the Prophet Yusof was considered to be chasing after Yusof because Yusof's shirt was torn at the back.

17. Clearly the Quran accepts circumstantial evidence even if unverified by witnesses. This is because Islam places a high value on justice. The processes involved in making a judgement is in order to achieve justice. The processes cannot be invoked in order to spike justice.

18. So Anwar should not try to escape justice by involving qazaf. He may try to do it with man made laws but he should not use the laws of Allah to achieve injustice. It is not Islamic and it is sinful.