Anwar Thanks Head of Police

Transcript from a press conference held on 5 September 1998

Note: Anwar spoke in both English and Malay. The Malay portions translated here are those that he himself did not rephrase in English.

There are several things I have to clarify.

First, in reference to the statement made today by the Inspector-General of Police:

I thank the Inspector General of Police for confirming that the DNA test was done on Encik Azmin Ali and Puan Syamsidar which established conclusively that they were the biological parents of the child in question. I was ready at all times to undergo a DNA test myself, although my counsel had advised against it because they had ascertained that there was no legal basis nor necessity to proceed with a DNA test purely because there were some baseless scurrilous attacks and fabrications by people, but nonetheless, on political and moral grounds, I agreed (to undergo the test myself) should the DNA test on my fellow victims of this evil conspiracy, i.e., the parents of the child, prove to be negative. I mean if the test was inconclusive in the case of Azmin and Shamsidar, then I was prepared to conduct a DNA test. However, the test on the parents were conclusive. That made some people happy, some people not. That is not the question. The question is the truth. As confirmed by the IGP, it was no longer necessary for anything further to be done. I welcome the zeal of the Inspector General of Police in closly the examining reports of my statements and trust that the same care and rigorous attention will be given when the police examine the tissue of lies and fabrications that are the bases of the sinister conspiracy I have exposed. That’s on the first issue--the IGP’s statement.

  • Translated from Malay: Praise be to God, I was subsequently informed that the tests were positive. That was why the police decided to prosecute my accuser, Khalid Jaffri. I hope the police will, in the same spirit, be able to justly carry out their duties in proving the falsity of the other allegations. I would prefer not to engage in a debate with the IGP. I have not said anything about a police conspiracy. I said there was a political conspiracy. Investigators should listen properly and put things in their proper contexts. It becomes a problem when I can’t get a fair hearing. Hence, I become the victim of an unjust investigation. Right from the beginning, I have repeatedly expressed my confidence (in a proper investigation). After all, the IGP had expressed his personal interest in the issue. He had said, upon studying the book, that the accusations were tasteless and rubbish. So that is why I would like the police to maintain their professionalism, to carry out their duty and not to allow any faction to use them as a political tool. As for today’s clarification, I say "thank you."
    •

    • Now, with regard to the concerns expressed by many leaders over the interviews or press conferences I have given, which have included the foreign media, I don’t understand why this suddenly becomes an issue when leaders of the government have always met, discussed with and entertained the foreign media. I say the same things to the local media and the foreign media. I appreciate their concern, sympathies expressed by many journalists--local journalists--and I know that their hands are tied. But purely because they are not able to portray (a correct picture), due to the orchestration and manipulation by a few in charge of the media… (this) should not be construed as my preference for the foreign media. I can say the same things or even have additional information if the local media so desire. Why don’t they request for a special interview tonight at the RTM, or TV3 or whatever? I’ll be very pleased. Exclusive… I can assure you. This will not be repeated by the CNBC, or CNN or ABC. Just for RTM and TV3 and other media as well….NTV7....

    All this criticism by some leaders on my interviews with the foreign media, (in which I criticise) the abuses of the instruments of government… my defence is clear. I submitted specific cases, instances, documents to the Prime Minister, to the Supreme Council UMNO and again now to the media. The instruments of government, even the judiciary, have been used. Because it is public knowledge that judges who are known to be objective, or known to me personally, have been quietly and speedily … transferred out. My appeal was to protect the independence of the judiciary.

    On the issue of the fabrications by the police, or the over-zealousness in trying to create doubts and suspicions against me… not using even the normal channels. Throughtout history you know affidavits are not used by the government or government institutions to implicate, embarrass and cause shame (but in this case they are so used against) me and my family. (This) they did through the affidavits in the Nalla case. I have no (channel through which to make my) defence. I was not charged, the case was Nalla’s, but I was the major subject matter, and there were not even specific charges. They were just references, implications, insinuations that raise questions on my integrity and character. This was then manipulated by the media in this country, giving a semblance of certainty in the allegations as if these were charges against me. In fact, those affidavits were circulated to all Supreme Council members before I attended the meeting and when they read them some of the Supreme Council members assumed that these were already charges confirmed by the police. Most of the charges were purely based on hearsay. What justice can you expect from this sort of abuse of instruments of the government?

    Now I am not here to enter into political polemics with the IGP. I respect their situation. In fact Tan Sri Rahim knows my personal views quite well. I’ve considered him an effective, firm IGP of integrity. When he told me that he wanted to handle this case personally, I said to him, "Please do it." And I had, certainly, some confidence. But with the events unfolding and with these fabrications, I was horrified and shocked that this could have happened to me. And I dread to imagine what is going to happen to ordinary citizens in this country. That is precisely the reason why I’m taking a strong view, a strong position. Mind you, I am now the victim. But I don’t want my children and other citizens of this country to be victims of the same.

    To my dear friends in the Cabinet, colleagues in the Supreme Council or former colleagues in the Supreme Council, let me tell you this. I’m not here to question or cause embarrassment or insult the instruments, agencies or the system of government. I’ve been supportive. I’ll continue to support, but I also have a duty to protect my right, I have a duty to defend myself and the honour of my family. You cannot imagine that people can fabricate these lies of excessive sexual misconduct… merely hearsay from some prostitutes giving credence (to the allegation) that I visited even places that I have not heard of…. And I have not been asked… my defence has not been called. I was not even questioned and they come on the front page to attack and abuse my character. If this is not a political conspiracy, tell me what it is.

    May I reiterate that I have appealed to the Prime Minister a number of times. I said "Sir, I’m not asking for a favour but I will require justice to be done and … to be done because if this is not so, I have no recourse but to defend myself. Now I have to do it at all costs because this case will certainly be viewed as a key example of how the executive, the legislative, and particularly here the judicial branch of government, conduct (themselves).

  • Translated from Malay: So, with this clarification, I hope my colleagues—my former colleagues—in the Cabinet and the Supreme Council will understand. Don’t choose to fight me politically in this case. I know that there is a political conspiracy. If there are any of my colleagues who are not convinced that there is a political conspiracy, I am must say I am rather disappointed. Surely, you are not so unsophisticated…. There has not been, since Independence, a case of a treacherous (national) figure. Here is Anwar Ibrahim, the first. So I hope my colleagues… true, this time it is me… I want to caution you against allowing injustice. Perhaps you don’t like me very much because I had risen so fast in politics. I was fast because I worked hard. In any case, that should not be an issue because justice is a right to me, to the farmer, to the labourer, to the working man, to the taxi driver. We want justice established in this country. This is what I am saying, and it is not the same as berating the institutions and instruments of government. I am asking you all to defend your integrity. I am encouraging the police to do their job well. I have been saying this for a long time, even when I was a young man who had a lot of problems with the police. I am saying I am for (professionalism)… and, as Finance Minister, I always supported (any decision) that would make the police force more effective, professional, with cutting-edge equipment… not for them to clobber me… but to establish justice.
    •

    • We have to educate… ensure that justice is not denied. Not only to me, to ordinary citizens, to taxi drivers, to workers, to labourers, to farmers, to all of our people. So I hope that my colleagues--I still consider them friends and colleagues--will appreciate it. Don’t enter into these unnecessary polemics… why did I choose to criticise these instruments of government for the CNBC or CNN? I said the same thing to all media, including our local media, and many of you here who show a lot of appreciation and sympathy.

    (Comment from audience: Yeah, but its not printed in the paper.)

    No, they can’t convince their bosses. They are doing the right thing but they cannot convince their bosses and their bosses cannot convince the chief who manipulates the media.

    Q What do you think you said or did that set this in motion?. What do you think caused this to spark?

    A I don’t believe that I caused the spark. The spark is caused by a strong undercurrent among the Malaysian public. They want to see change and reform in this country.

    Q Dato’ Seri, when you were Finance Minister (question inaudible)

    A We decided (it was) not necessary (to follow) the IMF style. The IMF wanted a much higher interest rate, to which we did not agree. The IMF wanted a balanced budget, to which we did not agree. We had a deficit budget. So don’t be duped into their campaign of trying to associate me with the IMF. Now I do chair the IMF-World Bank Development Committee, but I do not represent the IMF. I represent the Ministers of Finance of that world body. I do not represent the IMF or the World Bank. I chair to decide on policies to be adopted by the IMF at the World Bank. What were the recommendations?

    One – change, reform the international financial architecture of the world. We proposed that the IMF conduct its study on movements of funds because currency trade, movement (of) funds and short-term capital flows have their negative impact on domestic economies, particularly economies in transition. I believe that I certainly have to take part in the responsibility in terms of the problems in trying to address the economic mess that we are in now. But there are no simple answers, but regional problems, international problems and also some domestic problems. We have been into some major excesses too in our region. My difference with some members of the government is… because while criticizing the international system (and) currency traders, I said "make some adjustments and correct the excesses within our system too." Don’t just assume that we are perfect and put all the blame on others. So I think there should be a balance. That is my view.

    Q Do you think Dr Mahathir is trying to curb currency trading and the market situation? Will that be the answer?

    A I don’t know what is going to happen. I’ve not been to the meetings for the last few days. Notwithstanding that, I wish Dr Mahathir well. I agree with him in some of his concerns on the ploys of the international financial system, and he is correct at that. And that part will be taken as the headline tomorrow. But let me say this… I don’t disagree with him on these issues. And as a Malaysian, as a former member of the Cabinet, I really wish that this experiment as of 1st September will work in the interest of our economy and the interest of our people. Although I believe we have to deal with many problems, I don’t think we should be duped into thinking that this is the ultimate solution.

    Q Dato’ Seri, after you, are there… (inaudible)… left in the government?

    A There are some good members of the Cabinet and the Supreme Council. I have some respect and admiration for them. I do wish that they have the courage to express and articulate their cases well.

    Q I am a Malaysian citizen. Right now in the military it is says "kill or be killed." The moment you step into UMNO, you find that either you kill your enemy or you will be killed. Today you are unfortunate. Regarding the… what we call intelligence killing, they have implemented… (inaudible)

    A I have another forum after this. And now we deal with the media.

    Q Regarding how to fight back again. I’m a Malaysian citizen. How to fight back? We want justice to all people.

    A Yes, that’s what we are doing now.

    Q That’s good, Dato’. When you were Finance Minister, did you have any document on corruption within the government, government agencies… or the business people associated with it… (inaudible).

    A Yes. The answer is this. In my capacity as Chairman ….. (end of tape)

    …Mind you, I did not receive a single cent of that 60 million. I wish I had kept the 30 million.

    Q Question inaudible.

    A No, these are government documents. All allegations against any officer of the government will automatically be referred to the ACA and he is under the ACA. I’m not prepared… neither was I… in terms of the specific form of allegation. As a rule, any allegation against any member of the government or any allegation that I received, automatically I referred them to the ACA without exception.

    Q Dato’ Seri, Dato’ Abdullah Badawi said that you are irresponsible because… (inaudible)... political instability during a time of economic trouble. Can you respond to that?

    A Dato’ Abdullah is a good friend and I understand his problem. And I also appreciate what he has to say.

    Q The IGP has made allegations that you interfered with the investigations and tampered with evidence.

    A You see, this is the first time in this country where a specific charge is made purely based on the IGP’s statement. My advice to him is be professional, let due process take place. More important still, I trust the IGP should appreciate that the integrity of the police force must be respected. I therefore should refrain making or casting aspersions on this. Of course, personally I think there are strong reservations on this. I mean you have to conduct investigations, you have the chance, so now I hear initially there were 8 charges. They tried initially to top up 40 charges. They will present 8 charges. Now with what the IGP said this morning probably they have added 2 more. So it becomes 10. By the time they decide to charge, may be 70. So you can name every single crime and they can use every single law to try it out on me.

    Q So do you think you can get justice?

    A I hope I can get justice. That is why I make it a point now that the instruments of government, including the judiciary, must be seen to be effective and clean and not under any political instruction because I have evidence now that there is a political conspiracy insofar as the allegations, fabrications are concerned and therefore it is very important that we ensure that there is professionalism and justice.

    Q You’re supposed to go to Penang today, but you cancelled it. Why did you cancel it? Are you still going to Penang?

    A I cancelled because I wanted to meet the media here.

    Q You said some judges were removed. How many and who are they?

    A I’m sure it’s public knowledge. They are not removed, they are transferrred.

    Q How many?

    A I know of 2 for a fact. You should do some homework. You guys expect me to give all the answers.

    Q Just to ask you, the PM said, "a person is innocent until proven guilty". So what happens to that statement?

    A That’s for others. That statement is right for others, not for me.

    Q We the rakyat want him to use the same statement on you.

    A Thank you very much. I love the rakyat. This is becoming a citizens’ forum. This is a media forum.

     

    END