Anwar's message, delivered in the final hours of freedom

I expect to be arrested very soon. They might use the Internal Security Act or they might charge me in court and ensure that bail is not granted. So allow me some parting words to my children and to the people of Malaysia.

To my children:

Your father is a fighter for the truth who has tried to champion the poor, protect the dignity of the nation, spread the message of Islam. I have fought in many arenas, even in the (Umno) party and in government, where I eventually occupied a very high position. And not once have I allowed any dulling of the spirit that moves me to champion justice and fight for the people's welfare. And, certainly, in upholding what is right, I unsettled many people and these are the people who have plotted against me in a high-level conspiracy involving even the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir. So, my children, know that all the accusations that have been hurled at me are calumnious, wicked, treacherous.

Because of my love for you, I have raised you to be knowledgeable, virtuous and God-fearing, and I hope that with your mother's guidance none of these qualities will fade. Strengthen your spirit, increase your knowledge, build your determination to struggle for what is right. You, my children, have your roots in the kampong. Your father was raised in Sungai Bakap and Ceruk Tok Kun. Let us not ever forget our origins. So remember these words of mine for I cannot discount the possibility of something bad happening. I may be detained and, as we can see in the case of Uncle Sukma and Uncle Munawar, coerced, threatened and beaten. I am not frightened by all that. I have gone through such torture before and, God willing, I will bear it. But I felt it was important for me to speak to you now because there is a possibility, during my detention, that I may be injected with some kind of drug to sedate me or to disorient me or to somehow make me unaware of what I am saying. So I declare my innocence now. In fact in Batu Pahat last night, because charges had been made against uncles Sukma and Munawar which contained accusations against me that were rather specific, I chose to swear by God that I am innocent of the vile and despicable acts they accuse me of, that they are nothing but evil slanders originating with people who are too afraid of my political strength and influence. And, God willing, the struggle for reform, for truth and justice, will not weaken.

Honorable ladies and gentlemen:

I have, from the beginning, asserted that there indeed is a political conspiracy at the very top. It is true that I have avoided mentioning the name of Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. I wanted to hold on to the hope that he would be just and rational and that he would let his human feelings prevail. But it is clear that all these are gone from him because of his greed for power and wealth; he wants to use what time he has left to ensure the welfare of his family and clique. It is true that Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad used to support me and I used to support him. But that was when I still believed he stood on noble principles--although I often found it necessary to remind myself that no man is perfect. Eventually, he fell under the influence of the chief plotters, who obviously were not confident that I would protect their interests. I could not be depended on to assent to their grabbing ways, to their savage raiding of wealth for the benefit a few people. They could not be certain that I would protect their interests and those of their relatives. So they plotted a vicious conspiracy against me. In the initial stages, they tried to implicate me only in sex crimes. They thought it would be difficult to accuse me of graft--although, eventually, they did it anyway--because what I own is obviously too little for a finance minister who has served six years, compared with the wealth of people like Dr. Mahathir and those around him. They have billions of ringgit and they have bank accounts inside and outside the country. To accuse me of treason? That, too, would be difficult--although they have since tried hard on this--because the public knows of my sacrifices (for the nation) and the principles I uphold. The same goes for the cases they are still trying to invent. But to implicate me in sex crimes--this has the possibility of creating doubts in some people's minds. I asked Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir: "Can it be that you are seriously concerned about moral conduct within the administration?" Everyone knows that Dr. Mahathir had never worried about the morals of people at the top, whether these have to do with drinking, fornicating or gambling. People know too of the behaviour these leaders--what they do inside and outside the country. Sometimes he would tell them not to do it in Malaysia, but "if you want to do it, do it outside the country." This position is known to everyone. He is a hypocrite if he says at this stage that morals and piety are important to him. Marina Yuoff's revelation regarding the sexual escapades and girl friends of the Prime Minister and some of his colleagues in the Cabinet would indeed shock a lot of people if the local media had not blacked it out. If he says now that he has done what he has done to me because of reports he had received about me, then I say here that Marina Yusoff's allegation is enough for us to ask him to resign quite immediately.

The plotters in this conspiracy come from both the political and business elites. They fear that when I take over there would be no guarantee that their positions could be maintained and their crimes and corruption could continue. This should explain my mention of the Anti-Corruption Agency in my letter to the Prime Minister pleading with him to abstain from cruelty. I said the plotters had told the Director of the Economic Planning Unit that I had directed an ACA investigation into the EPU. It is true that there was an investigation and there was enough proof, including cash, to make an arrest. But the case was just closed up and I was instead accused of ordering the ACA to investigate the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General and the Chief Justice. All this was done in order to gain their support and sympathy, together with that of Dr. Mahathir, when a full-scale conspiracy was launched against me.

So these are the reasons why I agreed to have a discussion with my friends regarding the launching of an agenda for reform or, (to use a Quranic term), islah; I cannot see us adapting to this sort of terrorism.

Regarding their case against me, they have messed up over the question of statements by Azizah's former driver, whose name is Azizan, and also the sister of Azmin Mohamad Ali, Ummi Hafilda. These two have made sworn statements (defending my position). Ummi Hafilda has made a statement on tape accusing certain people of paying big amounts to the author of the book 50 Dalil. And the book has been distributed widely. The judge (who granted an injunction against the book's distribution) has been transferred. This cannot but be part of a conspiracy confirmed to be at the highest level in government.

And then the case just stops there. After I was sacked, it turns out the old cases can no longer be depended on. It was after I was sacked that new arrests were made. Sukma, Dr. Munawar, Azmin, Mohamad were arrested and, before them, some others who were extorted. And when they came out, they either became silent or they made false statements against me. I know the capabilities of our police officers; some employ Gestapo methods, some use the style of police in the Apartheid regime and some use the Isreali Mossad style. But let me caution them: you may be safe this year, or this month, but don't be too sure about next month. The people will exact what is due. Mandela waited for decades for the truth to emerge and the probes to begin. Justice cannot be compromised and justice must be done. Injustice must not be tolerated. So I hope the police will carry out their work professionally. In Sukma's case, he was detained for 13 days, his parents were not allowed any visit, his relatives from Indonesia weren't allowed to see him, the lawyer we engaged wasn't allowed. As it turns out, the police were forcing him, extorting from him, and perhaps even using drugs to extract a confession from him. And then they appointed their own lawyer (to defend him). The entire legal community knows how disgusting this is. Not only was he forced to confess; the police even appointed their own lawyer for him. In half an hour, the trial was over. No protests. Members of my family arrived late because they had not been informed about the trial. The lawyer arrived late because he didn't know. And in half in hour, he was sentenced to six-months' jail. This was at Court No. 4. In Court No. 1, where Dr. Munawar was tried, it was just as speedy. The sentence was exactly the same. This is indeed strange. It shows that there was a directive from very high up, that there was a political conspiracy. After the trial, my father begged to see Sukma but, till the end, he was denied that privilege. Sukma had to hide his face from family members, obviously afraid of the police. (He must have been forwarned.) This cruelty is a cruelty against the people. This was just one example, but an example that has opened the people's eyes. You, my brothers and sisters, should be grateful to God because, although I have been subject to cruelty and persecution, although I have been ridiculed and shamed, this is an important opportunity; for the first time in our modern history, the people are given by default a (most important) revelation and education.

And so I say we have no choice but reform. The law must be respected. The principles of justice must be honoured. Fundamental human rights must not be trampled on. The system of dictatorship and the ironfist policy, which allow robbery at the people's expense, must be stopped. There is enough wealth in our economy for everyone; let's not allow a few individuals to take it all, even if they claim to be genuine champions of the people.

And as to the law, as to religion--these must not be taken lightly. We live in a multicultural and multireligious society and justice must be upheld. We must not use the media--either print or electronic--the way they are used in Malaysia today, that is, to make fools of the people. Azizah and I tried to show our sympathy with Lim Guan Eng, who is serving an 18-month jail sentence for championing the dignity of a Malay girl and her grandfather. And the media condemned me for "collaborating with a Chinese party, with the DAP." The Lim Guan Eng issue is not a Chinese or DAP issue; it is a question of justice, even if the media has tried to play it in a way that would make Umno members isolate me as an enemy. I hope Umno members are wise to this. Enough! We must not allow ourselves to be cheated and betrayed. Don't let the greedy and avaricious determine whom our leaders should be. Enough! Open your eyes. Do not be afraid. We must have principles to live by. This is why I have said that reform must begin with an awareness from within. To bring about reform, we must begin with a realisation within ourselves. Qu anfusakum wa ahlikum nara…ibda' bi nafsika: begin with ourselves, with our own determination, to bring about reform.

It is not important whether or not people want to link this with happenings in another country. The person who was most frightened when President Suharto fell was Dato Seri Dr Mahathir. I knew how worried he was. I knew how he backed Suharto to the end. I told him: Suharto has done a lot for his country, but he also made mistakes for he wanted to defend an unjust system and he tolerated corruption. The same is true with Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad. His good deeds are many. But he has outlived his capability to serve. He has tried to protect himself without any regard for the law. And he has persisted in his injustice; it is so obvious and shameful. For instance, as you know, in the case against me--I say this again--what they are bringing up now has nothing to do with the allegations originally used to back my sacking. All these arrests are new, they are newly concocted. They will call up more of my friends. They tried to call up prostitutes, but abandoned the idea because I had pre-empted it, like I have done many times, knowing their tactics beforehand. And this has only made them more vicious. In fact, the charge against Dr. Munawar had nothing to do with national security, in spite of his detention under the Internal Security Act. He was charged with a sex crime. This fumbling and bungling shows how desperate Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir is. He has read the people's anger. I would like to advise him to retreat now with honour before the people rise to show their opposition and force him to go down in a most demeaning manner. And I pray that God will help the people to persevere and stand firm on their beliefs. The Malays, the Chinese, the Indians, the Ibans, the Kadazans, the Muruts--all understand that the time for change is now. We have to act now, before we are colonised by those born among us who only pretend to be our leaders.

The reason they are so afraid of me is that I know too many of their secrets. I know how many billions of ringgit of Umno money they have stolen to benefit a few people. I know how much money--one billion in October (1997?)--they took out of the country to deposit in bank in the vicinity of Zurich. I reported this to Dr. Mahathir, thinking I could trust him as a leader. As it turns out he kept the information to himself, and I cannot but come to the conclusion that there is a secret pact between him and a few well-known people. I know how many projects were used to benefit a few friends and his relatives. They are terrified because I have this information. But, like I have said, in the beginning I did not plan to challenge Dr. Mahathir, hoping that he would step down with honour. And then, when we take over, we would somehow rectify all this in a good way, without giving him a repulsive image by exposing his misdeeds. But he has acted in such an uncivilised manner, he has humiliated me, humilaited the scholars, played around with religious wisdom because he thinks he is almighty, surrounded by people who are too timid to point out his wrongdoing. He lives in a dream world. His condition is like one whose feet are not planted in the world of realities. He believes he is the world's most popular prime minister and he thinks he can do anything that his concupiscent self prompts him to do. And he has committed a grave error by his cruelty. For the prayer of the oppressed and persecuted, insha Allah, will God answer.

We tried to counsel him as a son to a father. I don't deny that I had an affection for Dr Mahathir, as if he was my father. I was anxious whenever he was ill, or down with a fever or suffering from fatigue. I never thought he would be this cruel and almost insane--all because I knew too many of his secrets; he was so afraid that I would reveal them. So he has decided to deal with this fear by killing off my political career, by trying to ensure that I will never again rise. My attitude towards Bakun is quite well known within the administration and among the public. It was not that I was so strongly opposed to the project, as long as it was carried out according to procedure and not used as a means of catering to the interests of his relatives. Even in the development of the Sepang airport, too much was given to his relatives and son. And we tried hard to avoid this, but it made him angry. And in the case of Petronas and MISC, involving his son Mirzan, we advised him to follow procedure. Petronas and I asked that the assessment be made by an international company. He got angry because he thought the price ought to be higher. But the cost was two billion ringgit to Petronas. That's the people's money. We just had to be realistic. But he was not satisfied (with our argument.) It's the same with Putrajaya. He has delusions of grandeur; we must have the tallest, the most wondrous, the biggest, including his official palace--it must be the most beautiful and the biggest in the world. Some say it was me who approved it. I say here that I did not give the approval for that residence. It was done through Putrajaya Holdings and they receive direct orders. I did not sign a single piece of paper to approve such a huge palace for a prime minister who wants to live in a fabulous dream world. Before this, he condemned the Malay rulers for their wasteful ways. When he wanted to amend the constitution, we gave our support because we thought it was to return power from the sultans to the people. But the power of the rulers were taken away, sometimes in an unnecessarily demeaning manner, only to be placed on his head. In the end, he is the prime minister, the king, a demigod and everything. And so it is his own attitude that has become his enemy and tarnished his image.

And neither did I approve the building of an official residence for the deputy prime minister at Putrajaya. At first the project was to cost around 70 million (ringgit), then it was lowered to 40 million and lowered further. Eventually, I told Azizah, "It's hard for us to approve it because of the economic situation. So why don't we just live in a simple home." But Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is different. Everything (for his residence) is imported from France. The furnishings must be the best in the world. Everything must be first class, the best and the most elegant. Really, we should supplicate with God for forgiveness and realize that we all have our limits. He is not so young anymore. And yet he wants his power to last, as if he will live forever, and to ensure it he resorts to cruelty and injustice. See what he has done to me. He has made the police become like the Gestapo, beating people, torturing them. It is so shameful. A trial court convenes, and then cleares the case with fantastic speed and efficiency. The judge would not even hear any plea or request from the defence.

We hear over and over again that the people must sacrifice. But where is the sacrifice of those who raid the national wealth, spiriting away hundreds of millions or billions of ringgit? We hear over and over again that our nation is our responsibility, meaning the people must shoulder their responisibilities, but those who must ensure justice, a just administration and the rule of law do not bother to carry out their responsibilities properly. I feel a little guilty; I tried to bring about changes from within, cajoling and pleading, but I took too much time. I seek your forgiveness. I fought poverty, promoted low-cost housing, defended democracy and civil society, promoted a good image for Islam, respected the views of scholars, and now I am cast away. Because I stubbornly defended these principles, I have to be shamed, and they do this over and over, accusing me and using the media to ridicule me. What is my sin? My sin is that I uphold truth, justice and the people's rights.

END