‘I was stripped naked, my private parts examined’

From Malaysiakini

Chan Kok Leong | Jul 17, 08 2:55pm

For the second time in a decade, Anwar Ibrahim now stands accused of sodomy and was brought to a hospital to be probed, measured and examined.

“When I was brought to the hospital, I was stripped naked for tests and had my private parts examined,” the PKR de facto leader told a packed 30-minute press conference at his house hours after he was freed on police bail.

“They also measured the necessary parts,” Anwar quipped.

However, he put his foot down when they came for his blood.

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I have lost count how many days we have now been in court. I only know that we are now in the third week. There is no end in sight yet. The Petitioner has called 9 witnesses so far. Looks like there is a similar number to go, with some high powered politicians. It will be good to cross examine them on matters raised in the Petition.

For the Respondent, it looks like 20 witnesses will be called, including high powered politicians from the Opposition AS WELL AS from the BN.

The Petitioner will have to deposit RM70,000.00 additional security in Court by beginning of next week. Will be interesting to cross-examine him if he raises the money. 

As I have to conduct the trial of the election petition for Chong Chieng Jen together with 3 other Counsel, I have to forego the visit to Penang. I was supposed to lead a delegation of about 50 DAP members and business investers to visit Penang from Thursday, 17th July, 2008. Chiew Chiu Sing will now lead the delegation. I hope that they will have a fruitful visit to Penang.

Sarikei Election Petition. Win or lose? I have received so many enquiries but I have not attempted to answer. I know many are concerned, and there is legitimacy to ask. I also know that some others asked because they gambled, and for that there is also “legitimacy” to ask. The case has been concluded, and let’s leave it to the Judge to make his decision on 24th July, 2 008. On my part, I would love to see a DAP victory, of course.

Sarikei Election Petition Hearing

The Sibu High Court had completed hearing the Sarikei Election Petition at noon today. The Petitioner Wong Hua Seh (DAP) called 17 witnesses. The 2nd Respondent (Ding Kuong Hiing (SUPP)) called 15 witnesses, one of who is Assistant Minister David Teng. The Notes of Evidence went into 176 pages. The Court had adjourned the matter for submission on 10th July, 2008 at 10a.m. It is expected that the judgment will be delivered a week or 2 thereafter. Though the sanctity of the electoral process must be respected, there is also a similar public interest in the purity of the election. It is this issue that the Court will have to determine.

Many had said that the hearing of the Election Petition was marred by 3 disclosures/statements by the presiding Judge against Tun Mahathir. However, the parties expressed their confidence in the Judge and the case had proceeded uninterrupted. Tun had made statements which many saw as a tit for tat response to the judge’s statements. In the latest Statement, the Judge had said that he would direct the Deputy Registrar to make a police report against Tun Mahathir for criminal defamation under s. 599 Penal Code.

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Kuching Election Petition Hearing

The Kuching High Court 1 is hearing the Kuching Election Petition filed by voter Kho Whai Phiaw (Petitioner) against elected DAP candidate Chong Chieng Jen (Respondent). The Petitioner has not indicated how many witnesses will be called but it is expected to be close to 20, including, and we look forward to, some VIPs and big shots, including Ministers. It is likely that the Respondent will call 20 witnesses.

Ad hoc licences were given to 2 Senior Counsel, one for the Petitioner and one for the Respondent.

Counsel for the Petitioner: Dato’ Muhammad Shafee Bin Md Abdullah; Henry Ling Kuong Meng and Frankie Tieh Kah Siang

Counsel for the Respondent: Chan Kok Keong, Chong Siew Chiang, Wong Ho Leng, Alvin Yong

The following gives an indication of how the case has been progressing. For the details and highlights, please refer to the newspaper reports. I have requested CCJ to post the notes of evidence in his Blog and I hope that will be done soon.

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War Zone in Rural Seats

From the Borneo Post (6th July 2008)

Rural seats to determine who forms state Government
 
By Raynore Mering

MIRI: Sarawak’s rural constituencies are expected to be the main battlegrounds in the coming state election as a stronger and richer opposition front prepares to lock horns with the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Given the startling results of the March 8 parliamentary elections in the peninsula, Sarawak’s rural seats - more than half of 71 state constituencies - could very well hold the key to who forms the next state government.

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dato Sri Dr James Masing foresaw a tough fight for the state BN in the election, especially in the rural areas, which could require the coalition to undergo a major make-over.

“Winning by BN or Pakatan Rakyat (the opposition alliance) will depend, I believe, on who can win the rural seats. For BN, rural constituencies were, are and will be its strength, it will be the factor which determines the continuity of the BN government.

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Najib linked to Altantuya? We Want Truth
It was just past noon yesterday and I was with a group of lawyers at Kuching Hilton discussing the Kuching Election Petition proceedings when I received from the SMS the breaking news that P. Balasubramaniam, Private investigator to Abdul Razak Baginda, had released a Statutory Declaration linking Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with the murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

When I was back at the hotel in the evening I could not wait but rush to surf the net for the Statutory Declaration.

I was not disappointed. The contents were juicy. I was amazed by the many astounding assertions made in the Statutory Declaration of 1st July, 2008.

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Hibernation

I have received complaints that this blog has gone into hibernation for the past few days. I am so sorry that I have no time to update it, though I have so many things to write about, eg, the fuel price hike, inferior rice being sold, Sibu Municipal Council and SUPP Dudong branch Signboard, Najib and Altantuya Statutory Declaration allegations, Anwar and Sodomy allegation, and, of course the Kuching Election Petition.

I am now involved in the hearing of the Kuching Election Petition. I will update this blog as soon as I have a little time to do so.

Fuel Hike Protests

About 100 people turned up for the fuel hike protest that was held at Town Square, Sibu. After the protesters were there for 10 minutes, the KPD arrived and told us that he would give us 5 minutes. Meaning, the protest was for 15 minutes. Generous police.

After the fuel hike, the protesters proceeded to Lanang Bridge to protest the toll. Many police personnel were there. When I arrived, the police told me that the KPD said 10 minutes. We “balik” after 10 minutes.

It was sunny and hot, but the hearts of the people throughout Malaysia must be burning hotter than the sun with the ridiculous fuel price hike.

Not a single BN people turned up for the protests. They are quite happy with the hike and toll, I suppose. That was why their MPs voted a resounding “yes” to Shahrir’s Parliament Motion last Monday.
 
The police are good generally this morning. There was no untoward incident. We are peace loving people.

After the protests, they took our hailer, banners and placards.

David and myself and some other DAP members are to be called in to the police station to record statements. I shall have mine taken this afternoon.

Any good reason for the fuel hike? With the uncivilized hike, the people should all stand up and be counted.

Protests should not be through the peaceful demonstrations. They should come through the ballot papers.

國油前年賺860億 

星洲日報‧2008.06.25 

（布城）前首相敦馬哈迪醫生指出，國油公司在2006年共賺取860億令吉盈利；因此，政府應該有很多錢供花費，而不應做出有損國家經濟的不消費行為。 

他說，國油每天出口25至30萬桶的原油，每桶的價格是140美元，足見政府應該有龐大資金。 

他表示在擔任首相時，國際原油價格每桶只有30美元，但是國油每桶仍有15美元的盈利，而今天油價已暴漲至140美元。 

指政府花錢方式令人混淆 

他也批評政府花錢的方式讓人民感到混淆，一邊廂說缺錢，另一邊卻毫不節制撥款給東馬兩州20億令吉。 

他說，國家賬目清楚記載他在位時是否有過度花費；他也沒有向外國借貸，因為儲蓄就佔了國內生產總值的40%。 

他也批評有一些秘密撥款沒有宣佈，例如給予東馬的20億令吉撥款，卻沒有明言多少是給“法官”的，顯示政府有很多東西仍隱瞞著。 

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