News Digest

Malaysia’s Anwar faces final appeal against sodomy conviction

Malaysia’s top court has begun hearing a final appeal filed by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against a sodomy conviction widely regarded as politically motivated. Anwar was sentenced to five years in prison in March on charges of sodomising a male aide in 2008 after the appeals court overturned an earlier acquittal. Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia. Anwar, who in the mid-1990s was the ruling party’s rising star before falling out with then premier Mahathir Mohamad, condemned the verdict as a “choreographed” travesty. Supporters and rights groups said it was politically influenced.

This is my country and I cannot imagine leaving. It’s a tough choice. Imagine at my age having to go back to prison.

Anwar Ibrahim

The conviction, Anwar’s second for sodomy, shattered his political plans which had been given a boost by opposition gains in a 2013 election. If Anwar, 67, loses his appeal, he faces a return to jail and would be barred from contesting the next general election that must be held by 2018. His departure from politics could also herald the disintegration of an uneasy three-party opposition alliance that he leads. The Pakatan Rakyat, or People’s Alliance, groups Anwar’s party, an ethnic Chinese party and an Islamist party. It was shaken recently by a dispute over who should take the leadership of opposition-controlled Selangor state.