MH370 scrutiny on Malaysia deals wild card in Anwar Ibrahim case

The Economic Times of India ^ | April 21, 2014 | AFP

[Uncle Chip]

The intense global scrutiny brought upon Malaysia's government over the fate of flight MH370 has tossed a wild card into its controversial efforts to send opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim back to jail.

Just hours before the Malaysia Airlines plane disappeared on March 8, a court overturned Anwar's 2012 acquittal on sodomy charges he says are false and part of a long-running government attempt to wreck his political career.

Sentenced to five years in jail, Anwar, free on appeal, would be expelled from parliament if the conviction holds -- a severe blow for a fractious opposition that has enjoyed unprecedented success by uniting around his star power.

But Anwar feels the negative global attention due to MH370 could force the government to think twice.

"(MH370) certainly will have a bearing," said Anwar, 66, when asked by AFP whether concern over international reaction to his jailing could make his political foes pause....

A former deputy premier with UMNO, Anwar has cultivated strong friendships in Washington, where he is lauded for his calls for reform, and the US State Department has questioned the March 7 ruling against him....

The March ruling came just two weeks before Anwar was to stand for an assembly seat in Selangor, Malaysia's richest state.

The seat was seen as a springboard to becoming the state's chief minister -- a powerful soapbox ahead of the next general election due by 2018 -- but the ruling disqualified Anwar...

[Uncle Chip]

Two weeks old but pertinent to the MH370 investigation.

[Rapscallion]

Not pertinent to the investigation at all, and should not be made pertinent IMO.

[Uncle Chip]

Anwar disagrees:

“(MH370) certainly will have a bearing,” said Anwar, 66, when asked by AFP whether concern over international reaction to his jailing could make his political foes pause....