SAIFUL BUKHARI SLAMS DR M FOR POLITICISING CRIMINAL CASE
Saiful, political leaders slam ex-PM’s call for Anwar’s release
FORMER aide to oppositon leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, yesterday slammed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for calling for Anwar’s release from prison.
Saiful said Dr Mahathir was ignoring the facts of the criminal case to serve his political objectives.
“As former prime minister, Dr Mahathir should know better. I am the real victim of Anwar’s criminal act.
“Power and ambition have truly blinded him to the facts of the criminal case. How easy for one to forgo principles and the meaning of justice when it serves desperate political objectives,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
On Wednesday, Dr Mahathir, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, issued a joint statement with United States human rights lawyer Kimberley Motley, asking Putrajaya to look into the immediate release of Anwar.
Dr Mahathir had described Anwar as a political prisoner who had endured more than 34 months in prison and with his current medical condition, it was only fair that he be released unconditionally.
Anwar is due to be released in June.
Saiful reminded Dr Mahathir that he had expressed sympathy towards him in October 2014.
“I regret that Dr Mahathir chose to politicise a case that has been decided by the court. I urge him to respect the court’s decision.”
Special Affairs Department director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said Dr Mahathir’s call to release Anwar was nothing but a gimmick to win support from components in the opposition pact.
He said Dr Mahathir had resorted to using the Anwar issue after failing to manipulate other issues.
Puad said the latest move showed Dr Mahathir was desperate as he realised that he was being gradually sidelined by the opposition after he sparked conflicts, including with the Malay rulers.
“I am confident that Dr Mahathir is only pretending he wants Anwar to be released to ‘win’ the trust of other opposition supporters, who are now realising he is becoming a liability,” said Puad.
“Dr Mahathir was adamant in wanting to send Anwar to jail in 1999.
“The latest call is a mere gimmick and not a sincere request.”
In a Twitter post, Gerakan Youth Chief Tan Keng Liang said the call by Dr Mahathir was puzzling.
Tan asked; “Why now and not when he (Dr Mahathir) was prime minister?”
Pas vice-president Idris Ahmad said Dr Mahathir should retract his statement because he had previously said Anwar was incapable of becoming a leader.
Dewan Negara Senator Datuk Hanafi Mamat said it was baffling that Dr Mahathir, having before had a hand in Anwar being in prison, was now expressing concern over Anwar’s welfare.
“This is just another political statement from Dr Mahathir.
“He not only put Anwar where he is today, but consistently defended and justified his actions all these years until his recent about-turn on Anwar and the government.
“After so long, why is it only now that Dr Mahathir feels Anwar is a prisoner of conscience?
“Who put him there in the first place?
“Wasn’t it Dr Mahathir himself, back in 1998?”
Hanafi, who is Pasir Mas Umno division chief, believed there was a hidden agenda.
He said ever since Dr Mahathir assumed the post of Pakatan Harapan chairman, he had embraced all of his former foes, from DAP’s Lim Kit Siang to Pas’ Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, as well as his one-time nemesis Anwar.
“In my opinion, these episodes are merely part of his soap opera on the political stage, which is a far cry from real life.”
He added that by calling Anwar “a prisoner of conscience”. or championing for his release, Dr Mahathir had failed to realise that he was going against his own words.
“Obeying the rule of law and facing the music has always been his phrase while he was in power. Now, how can we not obey the law and set Anwar free?”