Jailed ex-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has issued a reminder to voters that they must be able to see through "the game of deception" played by Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders when choosing their candidates on polling day this Sunday.

In his election message to the voters, he reminded the people of their responsibility to choose an articulate representative to ensure that Parliament and state assemblies are not just mere rubber stamps.

"In making an informed choice, it is of paramount importance that we see through the game of deception played by the powers that be, the presentation of falsehood as truth. It is, indeed, an endeavour fraught with challenges and obstacles," he said.

Among the games of deception played by the BN, he claimed, includes the "fiction of a huge anti-corruption drive" spinned by the party chairperson and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Anwar was sacked from his ministerial positions in 1998 and subsequently jailed a total of 15 years on corruption and sodomy charges which he claimed was trumped up by his political enemies led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

His sacking led thousands to take to the streets in support of him and the sentiment was depicted in the 1999 general election which saw newly established political party Keadilan, led by Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, taking five seats.

The mounting protest over the harsh treatment meted out to Anwar also benefitted the opposition, especially PAS, which not only tripled its parliamentary seats in 1999 but also managed to take over the Terengganu state government from the BN.

Although many claim that the Anwar factor will not help the opposition in the forthcoming general election, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang stressed that the party will keep the issue alive until Anwar gets the justice he deserved.

Evaluate BA's vision

In his message, Anwar invited voters to objectively evaluate the opposition's vision, policies and strategies for the future of the nation. He was referring to opposition front, Barisan Alternatif's (BA) manifesto launched by Abdul Hadi and Wan Azizah on Monday.

"We advocate the establishment of a truly democratic society, one with clear and inviolable separation of powers, one that respects and upholds the constitutional guarantees to freedom of religion, language and culture," he said.

"We support a free-market economy with a humane approach while continuing to back the people's aspiration for a just and equitable society. And all of us must express our abhorrence of the abuse of power, corruption, nepotism and cronyism which characterise the Umno-BN rule."

"We call on you to elect representatives who are able to articulate your case for you so that our Parliament and state assemblies are no longer mere rubber stamps," he added.

Anwar claimed that Abdullah tried to hoodwink the public into believing that the Anti Corruption Agency had acted independently by charging a big-time crony of Mahathir, Perwaja's ex-boss Eric Chia (photo), "fading politician" Kasitah Gadam and several junior civil servants.

He also questioned the ACA's failure to charge Mahathir, cabinet ministers S Samy Vellu and Rafidah Aziz, former ministers Daim Zainuddin and Dr Ling Liong Sik and former Melaka chief minister Rahim Tamby Chik despite the prevalence of incriminating evidence against them.

"If this is supposed to signify a crusade against corruption, then it is a crusade waged with water pistols," he said.

Cronyism is alive

He said that while Abdullah claimed to want the rakyat to tell the truth, his (Abdullah's) stranglehold on the media is tighter than that of Mahathir's.

"In a desperate attempt to portray himself as his 'own man' free from the clutches of Mahathir, the media has been orchestrated to play the tune of a supposed major shift in policy with regards to grandiose mega-projects.

"All that has happened is a mere postponement of two projects, with all the likelihood that they will be resumed after the elections," he said.

Contrary to the media spin, Anwar stressed that nepotism and cronyism is very much alive under Abdullah.

"It has taken the current prime minister just about three months to begin abusing his power. Barely 100 days after Abdullah assumed office, Crest (a petroleum company) was awarded a RM2 billion contract with contract work to be awarded to a company effectively controlled by his son," claimed Anwar.

"Does he not owe an explanation to the nation as to how his son has become one of Malaysia's 10 most wealthy bumiputeras? Why are deserving bumiputeras sidelined and poor bumiputeras, Chinese, Indians and others marginalised, notwithstanding the BN administration's generosity becoming intensified and magnified with the approach of the general election?"

Anwar said the recent controversy regarding the Malaysian involvement in a rogue nuclear weapons programme where the police had exonerate Kamaluddin Abdullah and Scope of any culpability also raised serious questions as to the impartiality of the police.

"In no way are we suggesting that Kamaluddin, the PM's son, should be detained under the ISA, although in such cases that would be the norm under the BN government. But the preferential treatment accorded to him is in sharp contrast to the harsh treatment of Nik Adli Nik Aziz, opposition leaders and reformasi activists, many of whom remain under detention without a shred of evidence of any wrongdoing being produced against them," he said.

Polls not free nor fair

He said BN has stacked the cards heavily against the opposition by controlling the Election Commissions (EC) which has since amended the electoral constituencies to ensure the ruling party captures its safe votes.

"The elections will be neither free nor fair. The chairman of the Elections Commission has himself admitted in an interview with malaysiakini that his agency is not free of BN executive control, though he did not put it in so many words," he said.

He also claimed that the BN had made use of its control over the judiciary by denying Keadilan leaders Mohd Azmin Ali (photo), Ezam Mohd Noor and Irene Fernandez their right to contest on Sunday

He said the public should not trust a government that claims to be fighting corruption when it is led by a party that uses bribery to gain support.

"We continue to hear of huge sums being paid to opposition party leaders to induce them to defect. Come election time, there is not even an attempt to hide the hypocrisy behind Abdullah's pledge of a clean government.

"The BN's use of money to win votes is more blatant than the smell of belacan," said Anwar