'Why the double standards, Rais?'
Joseph SipalanPublished: Jan 11, 2011 7:02 AM | Updated: Jan 11, 2011 7:43 AM
Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim is duty-bound to explain why there are double standards in that negative reports that affect him are censored, while bad news about others go through, said PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim.
Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim is duty-bound to explain why there are double standards in that negative reports that affect him are censored, while bad news about others go through, said PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim.
"It's two sets of laws and values in this country, when it affects a minister or the prime minister," he told a press conference at PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
Anwar cited the government's treatment of information gleaned off controversial website WikiLeaks as an example, saying that there had been concerted efforts to sweep whatever bad press there was against premier Najib Abdul Razak under the rug.
"WikiLeaks also made reference to the murder of Altantuya (Shaariibuu) and efforts by the prime minister to protect himself from prosecution.
"This was an allegation or statement attributed to WikiLeaks - first, the leadership (of Malaysia) is incompetent; Number 2, Najib is opportunistic and thirdly, he will do whatever to avoid being prosecuted in relation to the Altantuya murder case.
"Why is this being censored? Why is it when a reference is made to Anwar you publicise that?"
Who said Rais is guilty?
Anwar denied that he or any PKR leader had made statements questioning Rais' involvement in a widely publicised rape allegation which claims that a senior Malaysian minister had raped his Indonesian maid in 2007.
The maid has since denied the allegation, which had been circulating on the Internet.
Gerakan had recently issued a media statement, warning PKR to stop questioning Rais' (right) innocence in relation to the allegation, which has since gone viral online.
"We have not passed judgment, I have not issued any statement to that effect. Be there was an allegation, a denial, it's open to investigation. I never made any presumption of innocence or guilt against Rais." responded Anwar.
"Have a proper independent investigation. Our position is clear, we have not made any statement on this regard, and if we find any member making wild allegations or concluding the guilt or innocence of any party, we will advise them accordingly. You must respect due process and the rule of law."
Asked about the on-going controversy surrounding the Form Five Malay literature reference ‘Interlok', Anwar urged the Education Ministry to call for a discussion with representatives of groups that are against the use of the novel as part of the syllabus.
He said he had read ‘Interlok' "a long time ago" and did not sense any racist tendencies, but stressed that it would be "extremely useful" for the ministry to get a discourse going to stop the problem from festering.
"I think we need, at least the Education Ministry to call for a discussion with those who want to express their strong reservations. That should be the immediate action, let's not dismiss it, and not turn it into a divisive political issue," he added.
"It's two sets of laws and values in this country, when it affects a minister or the prime minister," he told a press conference at PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
Anwar cited the government's treatment of information gleaned off controversial website WikiLeaks as an example, saying that there had been concerted efforts to sweep whatever bad press there was against premier Najib Abdul Razak under the rug."WikiLeaks also made reference to the murder of Altantuya (Shaariibuu) and efforts by the prime minister to protect himself from prosecution.
"This was an allegation or statement attributed to WikiLeaks - first, the leadership (of Malaysia) is incompetent; Number 2, Najib is opportunistic and thirdly, he will do whatever to avoid being prosecuted in relation to the Altantuya murder case.
"Why is this being censored? Why is it when a reference is made to Anwar you publicise that?"
Who said Rais is guilty?
Anwar denied that he or any PKR leader had made statements questioning Rais' involvement in a widely publicised rape allegation which claims that a senior Malaysian minister had raped his Indonesian maid in 2007.
The maid has since denied the allegation, which had been circulating on the Internet.
Gerakan had recently issued a media statement, warning PKR to stop questioning Rais' (right) innocence in relation to the allegation, which has since gone viral online."We have not passed judgment, I have not issued any statement to that effect. Be there was an allegation, a denial, it's open to investigation. I never made any presumption of innocence or guilt against Rais." responded Anwar.
"Have a proper independent investigation. Our position is clear, we have not made any statement on this regard, and if we find any member making wild allegations or concluding the guilt or innocence of any party, we will advise them accordingly. You must respect due process and the rule of law."
Asked about the on-going controversy surrounding the Form Five Malay literature reference ‘Interlok', Anwar urged the Education Ministry to call for a discussion with representatives of groups that are against the use of the novel as part of the syllabus.
He said he had read ‘Interlok' "a long time ago" and did not sense any racist tendencies, but stressed that it would be "extremely useful" for the ministry to get a discourse going to stop the problem from festering.
"I think we need, at least the Education Ministry to call for a discussion with those who want to express their strong reservations. That should be the immediate action, let's not dismiss it, and not turn it into a divisive political issue," he added.
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