Malaysia
Mahathir reacts to growing criticism
Nine opposition leaders in Malaysia arrested in government crackdown
By John Roberts, April 30, 2001
Malaysian police last week detained another opposition leader under the country's draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), bringing to nine the number of oppositionists now being held. Lokman Noor Adam,...
An uncertain future for Malaysia's prime minister
By John Roberts and Peter Symonds, March 26, 2001
The 20-year rule of Malaysia's 75-year-old Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is looking increasingly uncertain. Over the last few months, Mahathir has been criticised over the outbreak of racial violenc...
Malaysian government puts "Islamic" arms raiders on trial for treason
By John Roberts, September 26, 2000
The trial began in Kuala Lumpur on September 11 of 29 men accused of raiding two Malaysian army weapons stores on July 2 and murdering two hostages. Two of the accused are also charged with using weap...
Behind the US reaction to the Anwar conviction in Malaysia
By John Roberts, September 5, 2000
News of the conviction of Malaysia's former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has provoked sharp criticism internationally. Anwar was found guilty on August 8 on charges of sodomy along with his ado...
Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim found guilty in second frame-up trial
By John Roberts, August 9, 2000
Former Malaysian deputy Prime Minister and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was found guilty of sodomy and sentenced to nine years imprisonment by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The predicta...
Free speech—Singapore-style
By Carol Divjak, June 20, 2000
By August 2000 Singapore is to have a speakers' corner! Is this a chance for Singaporeans to experience free speech? It hardly seems likely, given that the city-state has been ruled for the last 40 ye...
Two rulings from a servile Malaysian judiciary on the Anwar case
By John Roberts and Peter Symonds, May 29, 2000
Two legal decisions in the case of former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim last month demonstrate the blatantly political character of the country's judiciary, which acts as little more t...
A stifled leadership challenge in Malaysia points to continuing rifts in UMNO
By John Roberts, April 28, 2000
Elections for the top party positions in Malaysia's ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) are due to take place on May 11. As in previous years, the results are a foregone conclusion. Prim...
Extensive police crackdown against opposition rally in Malaysia
By Peter Symonds, April 19, 2000
The Malaysian government and police went to extraordinary lengths last weekend to prevent opposition groups from staging a protest march and rally in the capital Kuala Lumpur to mark “Black 14,&...
Malaysia:
Anwar's resumed trial produces further evidence of a political frame-up
By John Roberts, February 14, 2000
The trial of Anwar Ibrahim, former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, resumed in Kuala Lumpur on January 25 after a two-month recess. Anwar, who is already serving six years on trum...
Five Malaysian opposition figures arrested in government crackdown
By Peter Symonds, January 15, 2000
In what may foreshadow broader political repression, the Malaysian government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has since Wednesday rounded up and charged five prominent opposition figures under the ...
A reader writes in on the Malaysian elections
December 11, 1999
Chief Executive of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf in a message to Mahathir Mohamed on his re-election has stated that it "is a testimony to the deep confidence reposed by the Malaysian people in hi...
