Malaysia judge quashes PM subpoena in Anwar trial...

A judge on Thursday quashed subpoenas ordering Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife to testify in the sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The ruling by High Court Judge Zabidin Mohamed Diah removes the prospect of a sensational court appearance by Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor, whom Anwar says are behind what he calls bogus charges.

Anwar, 64, is charged with sodomising a young male aide in June 2008, but he denies the allegations and says they were cooked up with Najib’s involvement in an attempt to cripple the opposition’s chances in coming elections.

Najib has admitted meeting Anwar’s accuser Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan two days before the alleged sodomy, but both he and Rosmah deny any connection to the case.

Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia and punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The defence says Najib’s meeting with Saiful indicates the premier’s involvement and called for the couple to testify.

Zabidin issued the subpoenas last month but he ruled in favour of an application by the couple to strike them out, saying the defence failed to show their involvement.

“Hence, I allow the applications and order the trial to continue,” he told a packed courtroom in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Anwar expressed disappointment with the ruling, saying the couple “were clearly involved”.

“Our position is that this was planned. Now he (Najib) should come and deny it,” Anwar told reporters.

Anwar was deputy prime minister and in line for the premiership when he was ousted in 1998 in a bitter falling-out with then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Anwar was subsequently arrested and convicted on sodomy and corruption charges widely seen as politically motivated. The sodomy conviction was overturned and Anwar was freed in 2004.

He led an opposition alliance to historic gains against the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in 2008 polls, and the new sodomy accusation emerged shortly afterwards.

Najib is required to call new elections by early 2013 but is widely expected to call them within months.

source:channel news asia

Mahkamah tolak sepina ke atas Najib, Rosmah

Najib-Rosmah TERSILAP LANGKAH

cheers.