Today's NST story on Anwar's safety.
2008/06/30
WAN AZIZAH: Anwar will only come out if PM guarantees his safety
By : Joseph Sipalan
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will come out of hiding only if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gives his word that he will be safe.
A file picture of Pak Lah and Anwar shaking hands during one of the UMNO's General Assembly at PWTC.
PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Anwar is also willing to cooperate with the police in their investigations into a recent allegation of sodomy by Anwar on one of his aides.
"If the PM gives his word, I will take it. Anwar wants to have his safety guaranteed and he deserves to be protected. This is a fundamental right," she said at a press conference.
Also signing the joint-statement were DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa.
Video : Syed Hamid guarantees Anwar's safety, says ex-DPM is acting (NST Online)
Comment:
All of a sudden Anwar becomes a safety concern and his wife, Datin Seri Wan Azizah wants assurance from PM for Anwar’s safety. It seems Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid’s guarantee is not good enough, even though he is the Minister of Internal Affairs. Yes, Anwar deserves to be protected and as Wan Azizah says “this is a fundamental right.” However, don’t we think that fundamental right is for every citizen, not for the just few. Anwar ia “up and about” for all these years, even prior to the recent election, not only countrywide, but overeas as well, especially Hongkong and Singapore.
As the minister in-charge of security, Syed Hamid Is duty bound to ensure Anwar’s paramount safety, presumably by employing police officers in plain clothes guarding him wherever and whenever he moves around. In other words Anwar must be protected at all costs, even to the extent of providing him with bullet-proof vehicles and bodyguards. In western countries such as USA, such “safety precaution” for prominent figures (political especially) is already part of the embedded culture and protocol. And Anwar, as a prominent figure, probably needs such culture, especially when he is “not safe walking around anymore.” His personal safety is paramount.
Perhaps, Wan Azizah should consider requesting Defence Minister, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak to reign in the army a well to ensure Anwar’s safety around the clock. Anyway, some analysts are not sure what Syed Hamid means when he says “ex-DPM is acting”. Or Syed Hamid is referring to Anwar’s experience in the previous court case.
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