Aliran Media Statement
Justice prevails - at long last! Please support our work by buying a copy of our print publication, Aliran Monthly, from your nearest news-stand. Better still take out a subscription now. If you prefer to read our web-based edition, please support our work and make a donation. For a US$10 donation (via credit card) 
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Anwar's defence lawyers will be admired for their perseverance in pursuing this matter without any let up leading to its successful conclusion. And Anwar will remain forever as a shining example of sheer tenacity for taking on the entire establishment to expose a terrible web of intrigue and plotting that did irreparable damage to the judiciary. This protracted struggle for truth and justice brings to mind that observation by Arthur Schopenhauer, "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." This is what has happened in Anwar's case. He has gone through all these three stages. Malaysians will take note that in Anwar's case the process of injustice rolled on at break-neck speed to convict an accused person despite all evidence that made his conviction a mockery of justice. But it took many trying and tiring years and at tremendous odds - and at what cost? - to right a wrong. We wonder how many innocent people are languishing in our jails simply because they had no resources and no means to engage the best lawyers to fight their cause and to establish their innocence. How many are blessed with the tenacity to keep on track without wavering and to remain determined to fight to the end? And how many have paid the price because they lacked all these elements? The Anwar episode raises a very crucial and fundamental issue: How committed are our judges to truth and justice? Are they people of unquestionable integrity and honesty to safeguard their sacred duty to dispense justice without fear or favour? We need answers to the question as to how hallowed justice can be trampled upon so easily and with such impunity.This is especially pressing in the light of the disparaging allegations of corruption and interference in our justice system that was made by a previous High Court Justice. These allegations are very serious and seem to suggest that there had been instances of flawed decisions and denial of justice to the deserving. Though the Attorney General's Chambers rejected these allegations and forced Justice Syed Ahmad Idid to resign, Aliran totally rejects the findings of the AG's Chambers that these allegations were malicious and without merit. The investigations in the opinion of many were self-serving and nothing more. Malaysians are aware that there had been cover-ups by the police and disturbing miscarriages of justice in the judiciary to do in a political opponent who posed a serious challenge to the incumbent leader of the nation. We know what price Anwar had to pay for it. But what about former High Court Justice Syed Idid? We need to know what price he had to pay for trying to clean up the judiciary. Aliran calls upon Parliament to set up a Judicial Commission to investigate the entire trial of Anwar, the serious allegations made by Justice Idid and the appointments and promotions of judges. We hope that Parilament will respond positively because it has a responsibility to do so. There is a crying need to rescue the judiciary and restore respect and confidence in the judiciary to ensure that no Malaysian will be convicted on trumped up charges, that no innocent man without the services of the best lawyers will be unjustly condemned, that no upright judge standing up for truth and justice will be sacked, that no judge attempting to expose corruption in the judiciary will be forced to resign.
P Ramakrishnan
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