Suggested Link:

Welcome to a special edition of Foreign Correspondent. Malaysia's Sungai Bulo prison outside Kuala Lumpur isn't the most squalid jail in South East Asia, but it is tough, Spartan and stiflingly uncomfortable.

In a drug-tough, crime-tough Muslim country, necessity turned this remand centre into a crowded maximum security facility full of traffickers, junkies, murderers and rapists.

And in a solitary corner, the man who was surely to be Malaysia's next Prime Minister.

In Sungai Bulo's hospital wing, in a strict confinement cell four metres by three, Anwar Ibrahim meditates and reads the books brought each week by his lawyers.

Along with the Islam texts, his favourite works by Tolstoy and Shakespeare, where he's sure to find irony in spades… great literary parallels with his own sorry lot… a promising vibrant leader in the making brought down by foul conspiracy.

Anwar Ibrahim's no stranger to prison, nor his nation's infamous Internal Security Act. His firebrand activism earned him a 20 month stretch in the early seventies for leading anti-government protests. This time though it's 15 years and not for political protest, but for sex crime and corruption.

Once again, the Internal Security Act was invoked to deal with Anwar, but more sinister still, enough dirty tricks to make Machiavelli shamefaced.

The world condemned the trial and jailing of Anwar Ibrahim… U.S. Vice-President Al Gore called it a mockery of justice… Australia was critical. Even Singapore tough guy Lee Kuan Yew called it an unmitigated disaster.

Crowd supporting Anwar

02:00

Crowd: Reformasi! Reformasi!

Williams: Two years ago, when Anwar Ibrahim was sacked as Malaysia’s deputy prime minister, tens of thousands of supporters took to the streets in angry protest demanding political reform.

Anwar addresses crowd

Anwar: We are demanding for justice. We want rule of law! We are against law of the jungle. We are against the… We want Mahathir to resign! Resign! Resign! Resign!

02:24

Williams: But the display of support didn’t stop Anwar from being arrested, beaten and eventually jailed by a court on spurious allegations, fuelled by an aging leader apparently terrified of Anwar’s rise.

02:50

Williams to camera

Williams: This story has all the ingredients of a great drama…

03:08

sex, violence, intrigue treachery and deceit.

But unlike a drama, this is the true story of one man’s obsession with retaining power and the devastating methods he’s used to do it.

Band plays for Mahathir

Band music

03:25

Mahathir takes stage

Williams: At 74 Dr Mahathir Mohammed has much to be proud of.

03:43

As Asia’s longest serving leader he’s overseen Malaysia’s remarkable transition from impoverished backwater to one of the region’s tiger economies.

He’s done it by enforcing his vision through just about every institution of government - and at this year’s National Day celebrations, there was a strong sense he was showing he’s still in control.

04:00

Flyover/band

Band music

04:15

Williams: So in a parade that was only 500 metres long – especially designed for TV – Mahathir’s combined forces took pride of place…

…and helped out by hurrying along any stragglers.

Parade

There among the usual floats of pretty girls were the corporate symbols of Mahathir’s economic success.

04:47

But the growth has not been without controversy. Like Indonesia’s Suharto, when handing out projects and tenders, some members of Mahathir’s cabinet favoured friends and family, who in turn financially supported the ruling party - it’s a cosy system of cronyism.

05:00

Ezam interview

Super:

Ezam Noor

Anwar political secretary 1996-'98

Ezam: I think he knows very well the predicament of Suharto is very much the same as him, you know, they might just differ in terms of degree and amount and so forth, but I think the modus operandi and the children and the cronyism and the nepotism is very much here in this country.

05:20

Williams: So when the disgraced Suharto fell in May 1998 so too did Mahathir’s feeling of impregnability.

05:40

Ezam: The next day when Anwar enter the office of the Prime Minister, which is a routine to him

05:48

Williams: The day after Suharto's…?

Ezam: Yeah, the day after Suharto had gone, he entered the office of the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister asked for him to pledge for loyalty.

05:56

Photo of Mahathir and Anwar

Williams: For almost two decades Mahathir and Anwar were a formidable team.

06:06

Mahathir, the veteran manipulator of Malay politics and authoritarian Asian values.

Anwar - the well-credentialled Islamic moderate who engaged the west with talk of greater transparency and softened Mahathir’s image.

Anwar interview

Anwar: The beauty in the system is that Dr Mahathir normally gives general policy direction and I have to implement by giving more specific announcements or ensuring that specific measures are in place so I don’t think there’s any contradiction.

06:30

Williams: It’s a difficult position for you, isn't it? A dangerous one too, perhaps?

Anwar: Complimentary position I would say…to compliment.

06:47

Anwar press conference

Williams: Handpicked by Mahathir as his heir apparent - Anwar was ready to wait for the top job that was his without challenge.

06:58

Azmin interview

Super:

Azmin Ali

Anwar political secretary 1996-'98

Azmin: I knew for the fact that they had a very warm relationship between Anwar and Mahathir - just like a son with a father. And I must say this, that virtually every morning Anwar will spend at least half an hour to an hour with Mahathir in his office -- if Mahathir is in KL -- just to talk to him, to discuss some of the important issues, before they discuss in the cabinet.

07:05

File footage of currency crash

Williams: But when the currency crisis hit Asia in 1997 an ideological chasm would gradually tear the partnership apart.

07:36

News Reporter: The crash sent shock waves around the region. Investors could only watch as panic sent stock prices tumbling.

Anwar at press conference

Williams: To restore foreign confidence - Anwar believed in strengthening economic fundamentals and curbing the cronies. Mahathir saw this as an attack on his friends - a threat to his system of patronage power.

07:56

Azmin interview

Azmin: He virtually forced Anwar to safeguard the interests of a few which are known to be his close associates, his cronies his children.

08:11

Petronas towers

Williams: Also unacceptable to Anwar was Mahathir’s love of the so-called mega projects - like the Petronas towers - once the world’s tallest building.

08:23

Petronas is the state petroleum company - earning six billion U.S. dollars a year in oil and gas revenue.

Anwar would later testify in court - Mahathir would direct Petronas to the bail-out a troubled shipping company controlled by one of Mahathir’s sons.

08:42

Ezam interview

Ezam: Then I asked him and he told me that yes he’s very much under pressure, that he cannot tolerate this at all. This is too much, you know, the country the economic of the country is very much at stake and now we have, you have the prime minister pressuring him to sign a deal to bail out basically the son of the prime minister which amounting to about two billions you know, the Petronas the petroleum company to save the shipping company that belong to his son.

08:53

Azmin interview

Azmin: Anwar told me that he was called up by Mahathir a few times and he insisted that this scheme should be approved immediately, and I was told by the senior officers of Petronas which confirmed that they were harassed by the Prime Minister's office to approve, to submit the cabinet people, to the cabinet, without going through the normal procedures.

09:22

Cabinet meeting

Williams: Anwar would also later testify that as the crisis deepened Mahathir and his chief economic adviser - now Finance Minister - Daim Zainuddin - ordered him to allocate public funds for other more expensive bail-outs.

09:48

Ezam interview

Ezam: There are at least three or four projects to bail out certain companies which very clearly belonged to the cronies of Mahathir and Daim.

10:04

Williams: What exactly is the problem then with bailing out companies that could be central to the Malaysian economy? What’s the problem with that?

10:13

Ezam: We are not against any attempt to bail out companies because we know they are involve thousands of workers, because they’re welfare is to be taken care of, but this basically eventually you can see in the proposals they are basically bailing out individuals, you know, certain shareholders.

10:20

Music

Williams: In a letter sent to Foreign Correspondent from his solitary confinement, Anwar Ibrahim accuses Dr. Mahathir of paranoia and protecting his cronies.

10:45

Letter from Anwar

"The economic crisis … exacerbated our differences his family and cronies felt increasingly insecure. My priority was to strengthen economic fundamentals and restore investor confidence. Dr M alleged that these were western IMF prescriptions to sabotage the economy. I rejected such ludicrous outburst as an attempt to camouflage the bail outs and contracts for his children and cronies."

10:56

Meet and greet

As Finance Minister Anwar had once thrived in the political environment he was now turning against.

11:30

Accused by some of having his own cronies, Anwar says as the crisis deepened so did his determination to clean up the system.

11:38

Letter from Anwar

“Admittedly on some issues I did conceal my revulsion against some excesses. But on more critical issues like democracy, corruption, independence of the judiciary, my views were well articulated.”

11:49

In 1997 while acting prime minister Anwar put those views in to action.

10:04

Fernando interview

Super:

Christopher Fernando

Anwar Lawyer

Fernando: Anwar was responsible for introducing the new anti-corruption act which was quite draconian in effect you see. They could go back in time if a public official had amassed money during the five years before he resigned or before he left office, all those monies could be frozen and action could be taken against him. So I think a lot of people feared Anwar, they had to get rid of him.

12:14

Jail/Letter

Williams: In his letter, Anwar explains why Mahathir and his political elite would oppose the anti-corruption legislation.

12:49

"I have since made police reports enclosing documents incriminating Dr M on Perwaja privatisation awards and contracts to his children… virtually all his children receive contracts and lucrative projects from the mega projects…

13:00

Tun Daim, the finance minister, (letters by three corporate chiefs donating 600 million ringgit cash and shares to him) Rafidah Aziz (anti-corruption agency and attorney-general’s document preferring charges against her)."

Rafidah Aziz and Mahathir

Trade minister Rafidah Aziz is one of the senior cabinet ministers Anwar named in court as having received Mahathir’s protection.

13:34

Aziz at hearing

In 1995, Minister Aziz was indeed investigated for corruption for overseeing a meeting where her son in law was allocated over a million shares in a public float.

13:45

Police statement

But according to a police statement made by Anwar, the charges against Rafidah were quashed “due to the intervention of Dr Mahathir."

13:58

“…..the Attorney General’s Chambers … had sought my assistance to appeal to the PM to rescind his earlier decision directing the AG not to prosecute Dato Rafidah for corruption.”

Ezam interview

Ezam Noor later released the document to prove the impunity of those enjoying Mahathir’s protection.

14:22

He now faces jail under the official secrets act.

Ezam: When the ACA officers asked Rafidah Aziz, do you know this is wrong, she said I know this wrong. So why were you still there chairing the meeting. And the answer Rafidah gives is very interesting; She said I was instructed by the prime minister to be in the meeting to make sure his son Mizrah Mahathir also got a portion of the shares in the company. And this is the testimony, you know, made by Rafidah Aziz in the documents.

14:33

Press conference

This was just one of several allegations of high-level corruption and cronyism Anwar raised in sworn testimony in court.

15:08

It was his opposition to these favours and bail-outs, he says, that destroyed his relationship with Mahathir.

Fernando interview

Fernando: Anwar told us that there were a lot of occasions when he had heated arguments with the prime minister and other colleagues of his over various things -- about policy matters, over how the money was being used, you know. And I think what really broke the camel’s back was the prime minister felt that Anwar was going to stand against him.

15:24

Anwar video statement

Anwar: He's getting very desperate…

Williams: Just before his arrest, Anwar videoed this statement outlining why Mahathir would now move against him.

16:03

Anwar: ...he’s too committed to his few cronies and family interests he has condoned too much corruption and abuse of power, and the only reason I can suggest why he wants to assassinate me politically, is he no longer trusts that I could protect his interests and his cronies' and family’s interests in the event I resume the premiership of this country.

16:13

Anwar address

Williams: Anwar’s rapid rise and popular fight against corruption had always made him powerful political enemies in the ruling UMNO party.

16:52

But in 1997 the rivalry turned dirty when a poison pen letter campaign accused him of sexual misconduct with women, and sodomy - a crime and moral outrage in Malaysia.

17:02

Ummi Hafilda

The letter was signed Ummi Hafilda - the sister of Anwar’s chief political secretary Azmin Ali. She was allegedly angry because Azmin had refused to send business her way.

17:18

Azmin would later testify in court that when he confronted Ummi, she said a senior UMNO party member, the deputy home minister, had offered her money and contracts to make the claims against Anwar.

17:32

Azmin interview

Super:

Azmin Ali

Anwar political secretary 1996-'98

Azmin: So this is a serious conspiracy designed by senior members of UMNO who are also at that time in the government, and that's why I raised this matter with Prime Minister Mahathir. And I also told him that a senior staff in his own office also involved in the drafting of the letter and also in the circulation of the letter.

17:46

File tape of Azizan Abu Bakar

Williams: Also involved was an elusive man who would later become pivotal in the campaign to oust Anwar.

18:14

It was Anwar’s family driver. Azizan Abu Bakar who alleged he’d been sodomised by Anwar.

Police findings statement

But the findings of a police investigation into the poison pen campaign, and sent to Mahathir himself, stated … “that the allegations…did not have any proof …and appeared purposely made up.”

18:30

Azmin

Azmin: Both Azizan and Ummi apologised to Anwar and they admitted that they were false to do this, and they said there's no truth in it and it was a baseless allegation.

18:43

Newspaper article

Williams: Accepting the findings of the police report, Dr Mahathir publicly stated his support for Anwar.

18:59

“…it is too absurd to be believed…it is purely political. There is no truth in it. The person who was supposed to have written the letter later decided there was no truth in it.”

Mahathir

Even with the retraction, and the police inquiry finding it was a conspiracy created inside the party to destroy Anwar, it was these very same allegations that just one year later Mahathir would use as the basis for dismissing his rival.

19:20

Williams to camera

The plot was chilling in its simplicity. To get rid of Anwar, Mahathir revived the allegation of sodomy hoping the crime would destroy Anwar politically and the public outrage here in Muslim Malaysia destroy Anwar's popularity. But as the scheme unfolded it was not just Anwar who would suffer.

19:38

Foreign Correspondent can now reveal that as the policy differences deepened between Mahathir and Anwar, the plot to revive the sexual allegations was drawn up in Prime Minister Mahathir’s inner sanctum.

20:02

Williams with Kamaruddin

Speaking for the first time since giving evidence in court, former UMNO party district chief Raja Kamaruddin says in June 1998 he was called to the office of Mahathir’s chief political secretary Aziz Shamsuddin.

20:16

Kamaruddin interview

Super:

Raja Kamaruddin

Former UMNO District Chief

Kamaruddin: So there is Aziz Shamsuddin smiling at me then telling me that the Prime Minister told him Anwar is not fit to be the Prime Minister and knows zero about finance. And your duty is to organise a conspiracy, how to stop Anwar from being the prime minister.

20:32

Williams: They were his exact words?

Kamaruddin: Yes “send the bill to me - no limits from time to time I’ll visit you, advise you and give you information”.

Williams: What was then your mission? What did they say? When they said political assassination.

Kamaruddin: Okay.

Williams: What did they ask, what were they asking you to do?

21:04

Kamaruddin: Right. You see a political assassination group is like a propaganda group. So we will give motivation, we will give the drama lectures to the public, to the people -- so Anwar is bad. Dato Aziz Shamsuddin will give all the data, all the bad things about Anwar, so my duty is to motivate the people.

21:23

Mahathir and Anwar

Williams: As the conspirators prepared the political ground, Mahathir started isolating Anwar.

21:55

Azmin interview

Azmin: Through my conversation and discussion with Anwar in July and August he told me that during meetings, even in cabinet meetings, or in UMNO supreme council meetings, or in any cabinet committee meeting, he felt that Mahathir does not entertain him, rejected his view completely and tried to work closely without him.

22:03

Mahathir

Williams: Fuelled by talk Anwar might challenge his leadership, Mahathir made it an open secret he was about to sack his deputy prime minister.

22:30

On Wednesday September the second 1998, Anwar went to the Prime Minister’s office to confront him.

Azmin

Azmin: Mahathir accused Anwar as a womaniser, Mahathir accused Anwar as sodomist and that was the grounds that Mahathir used to sack Anwar on September second. Of course, at that point of time, Anwar challenged Mahathir to prove his allegations, and Anwar denied completely all the allegations expressed by Mahathir. But Mahathir gave him an ultimatum -- either he signed a resignation letter before 5.30 on that day or he will be sacked from the government and the party.

22:48

Malaysian flag

Williams: It was in that showdown that Mahathir issued an extraordinary threat to Anwar.

23:31

Fernando interview

Fernando: The Prime Minister gave him the ultimatum - you resign or we will charge you in court. And he says no, I will not resign, you do your worst. That’s what Anwar told the Prime Minister.

23:36

KL Buildings

Williams: With Anwar’s refusal to resign, Mahathir was true to his word, and the machinery of state was soon moving against the man once groomed to run it.

23:52

At 7pm Anwar was sacked, and as news spread, shocked supporters gathered at his home.

24:04

Anwar gives speech after sacking

Anwar: I am committed to reform in this country. I’m committed to the struggle against corruption, abuse of power…

24:12

Williams: Malaysia’s compliant media were not only used but became part of the prime minister’s smear campaign to destroy Anwar.

Anwar rejected the claims of sexual misconduct the only way he now could - from the home that had become the headquarters in his war against Mahathir.

Anwar: These are scurrilous allegations, no basis. I’ve enough documentary evidence, I have tapes, I have documents, I have statutory declarations that under oath… that would certainly defend and establish my innocence. But all these were ignored, all were completely ignored except the portion that has been taken to incriminate, implicate me and embarrass me, and certainly the intention is to undermine the confidence of the Malaysian public towards me.

24:43

Anti-Mahathir demonstrators

Williams: But the usually canny Mahathir had dreadfully miscalculated the public’s outrage.

25:28

Day after day, the numbers swelled. With his dismissal Anwar had become the leader of a new opposition, a potent symbol of demands for reform.

25:45

Williams: Mahathir had created a powerful political martyr that he needed to remove at any cost.

26:02

Riot squads were ordered in to forcefully clear protests from the streets.

26:16

But behind the scenes, police special branch had a secret, more sinister mission.

Police officers

Targeting Anwar’s friends and family, they started searching for anything that would carry through Mahathir’s threat that Anwar’s defiance would land him in court.

26:37

Over the next few weeks, police would detain and question several of Anwar’s associates using brutal interrogation methods that would have devastating results.

26:50

Darmawan and Williams

Sukma Darmawan, Anwar’s adopted brother, was one of the first to be picked up by the police.

27:04

Speaking publicly for the first time, Sukma says he was handcuffed and stripped by the police.

Sukma interview

Super:

Sukma Darmawarn

Anwar's adopted brother

Sukma: Everybody suddenly becomes so angry to me and then shouting and shouting and shouting and shouting with this – I don't know what they said. Of course, at that time, I cannot even say the words to ask it what you want from me. I just feel cold I feel shame you know with the naked, then cry. I just stand and then after I cannot stand any more so I try to sit. When I try to sit so they kick the chair so that’s why I drop.

27:17

Police station

Williams: Deprived of sleep and food, Sukma’s abuse continued for ten straight days, then the police threatened to jail him for 20 years or even have him killed if he refused to do what they wanted.

27:52

Sukma interview

Sukma: So they want me to for me to say I have a relationship, a homosexual relationship, with Anwar Ibrahim, that’s all that’s what they want. They just want me to say that until the state which is like really can’t stand it any more. So you know, I really blank at that time. So okay, I don’t know what to do. I so far I didn’t do anything bad even whatever. And the same thing also, I didn't do anything with my brother with Anwar Ibrahim, but whatever you want to do. So I follow you because I can’t stand any more.

28:07

Williams: Out on bail, Sukma still has to serve six years jail for aiding and abetting Anwar’s sodomy of Azizan Abu Bakar -- a crime he says police fabricated.

28:50

But this frightened man’s confession gave the prosecution a vital step in their conspiracy to frame Anwar.

29:04

Dr Anees typing

Dr Munawar Anees is a well known author, a respected Islamic scholar, and was Anwar’s speech writer. He was next on the police list.

29:13

When he was taken in to custody, police were explicit about what they wanted him to say.

Munawar interview

Super:

Dr. Munawar Anees

Anwar's former speech writer

Munawar: We want you to say that you had a homosexual relationship with him. Quote unquote - we want to get rid of Anwar. Quote unquote Anwar is an enemy of Malaysia. If you do that you will become a hero in the eyes of Malaysian people. We will give you Malaysian citizenship - as if that is the last thing coveted thing that I want! - and we will support your family, honour you and reward you, and so on and so forth.

29:30

Williams: When Munawar refused to give them what they sought, the police turned brutal.

Munawar: People come to you in rapid succession and shouting very loudly and telling you, yes you did it, yes you did it, yes you did it. You are threatened that your wife and your family will be destroyed. You will be destroyed, you be sent to solitary confinement for eight years. You have no lawyers, you have no future, you have no life, you have no money.

30:21

Manjeet interview

Super:

Manjeet Singh Dhillon

Dr. Anees' lawyer

Manjeet: So they began to ask Munawar to simulate anal sex, you know, to lie on the floor and they kept on telling him, listen think for a moment your fucking Anwar. Alright, you’re on the floor this is it you’re fucking Anwar, you're having homosexual sex with Anwar. Is it nice, was it good? Did you enter him well? Now, turn it over, now you’re on the floor, he’s on top of you he’s having homosexual sex with you. And they kept on doing this, and they kept on doing this.

30:45

Can you imagine taking your man who is a professional an academic, who’s not used to such language, not used to such behaviour, and you make him simulate sex on the floor in front of you, in front of police officers , Special Branch officers, who are sitting there like the Gestapo out of the Hitler regime.

Who keep stamping their feet on the ground and raising their arms in the air shouting and putting up Hitler salutes and saying hidup Malaysia, you know long live Malaysia, doing this is a good deed, go on, you know fuck Anwar he’s on the floor carry on, fuck Anwar. And you’re going on day after day, night after night, hour after hour. I mean it was basically like literally brain washing the man and breaking every single resistance he had till you, till you end up as I say, this shell of a man prepared to do anything you want him to just to save himself.

31:34

Munawar typing

Williams: To end the torture Munawar - like Sukma - was forced to falsely confess to being sodomised by Anwar.

32:09

Prime Minister Mahathir wasted no time praising them for their confessions.

Mahathir

Mahathir: They made these statements because I believe the police told them, the police are Muslims and a lot of them are knowledgable about Islam, and it was pointed out to them that what they committed is a grave sin and it is, well, punishable of course in the afterlife. But they need to repent and recant. That is what has happened and what I say is the absolute truth

32:23

Munawar

Munawar: What I say is the absolute truth is that is that Mahathir is an absolute liar. I hold him absolutely responsible for this crime against me and my family. And this is nothing but a total absolute lie! He is an absolute liar!

33:01

Music

Jail

Williams: Dr Munawar Anees and Sukma Darmawan were each sentenced to six months jail for being sodomised - a crime they insist was fabricated by the police to help their case against Anwar.

33:24

Fountain in Washington

Munawar Anees now enjoys much treasured anonymity in the United States, where another witness, Jamal Rahman, runs a limousine service in Washington.

33:40

Jamal driving limousine

Jamal testified in court that in 1998, while driving a Malaysian diplomat from Washington to New York, the diplomat told him he could make $200,000 if he said he had sex with Anwar.

33:51

Jamal interview

Super:

Jamal Abdul Rahman

Jamal: I say you must be out of your mind. You know, I get really upset and he changed the subject and he said don’t be upset, you know, we can make some money Jamal. Come on, we can make some money. I said, you make that money. I don't want to make this money. So he said, I thought you wanted to make up a story, in the beginning, I thought he wanted to make up a story so he can make some money. But when we get to New York he showed me a booklet and he said like I brought him girls and boys and this and that and he wanted me to sign it and go to Malaysia to witness. I refused. I didn’t even look. I just slammed the car and turned back from New York. I didn’t even stay there. I dropped him off and I came right back.

34:05

Anwar video

Williams: As police worked on potential witnesses, Anwar taped this prescient message to his children and supporters.

34:41

Anwar: The situation is getting rather tense - there’s a growing public outcry against the leadership of Dr Mahathir. There is a popular call for his removal. I therefore anticipate that the authorities will get more desperate and nastier, and possibly invoke the Internal Security Act against me or to proceed with the charges against me. And I don't anticipate that the charges will be bailable. Papa is innocent and papa is a victim of this high level conspiracy that involves even prime minister Dr Mahathir.

34:53

Anwar at press conference

Williams: Anwar’s opposition rallies gathered momentum.

35:45

Then, on the night of September the twentieth 1998, masked police backed by a riot squad - indifferent to local or international opinion - raided a rally at his home to arrest Anwar.

Protestors

To the defiant catchcry of his reform movement, Anwar was taken away.

Crowd: Reformasi!

36:13

Anwar's arrest

Williams: But at Anwar’s next public appearance the world would be shocked by how he looked.

36:32

Anwar had been beaten by none other than chief of police.

Although he was later convicted for his actions, the beating by the police chief was seen as by many as a warning to all Malaysians - if this could happen to the deputy prime minister - what could happen to you?

36:48

Anwar was eventually taken to court on two main charges.

37:06

The first was that Anwar had abused his power by seeking declarations from Ummi and Azizan that their original poison pen claims were untrue.

37:11

The second was that Anwar, aided and abetted by his adopted brother, Sukma, had in fact sodomised his family driver, Azizan Abu Bakar.

37:22

Despite Azizan’s previous insistence that his allegations were false - poison-pen letter author Azizan had re-emerged as Anwar’s alleged victim - the prosecution’s key witness.

37:32

Mahathir

Mahathir himself now publicly endorsed Azizan’s allegations - the claims of a man that one year before Mahathir had condemned.

37:47

Mahathir: …they had not only performed sodomy, but during the process he was -- I don’t know what you call it -- he was masturbating this man. Do I go around the town and tell the world that this is what my deputy was doing? And yet he did it. I mean I cannot understand how a man would invent a story like that, but this is what he told me, he told the police, he didn’t tell me, he told the police.

37:59

Williams: Mahathir’s continued public comments on Anwar’s guilt were seen as pointed pressure on the court to find Anwar guilty.

38:29

Karpal interview

Super:

Karpal Singh

Anwar lawyer

Karpal: I think he wanted to make it very clear that Anwar was guilty, and with that backdrop, for any judge to say otherwise would not be that easy, isn’t it. And why did Mahathir do that? You don’t have to be a lawyer to know that whatever you say may influence the court. You are the prime minister. You are the one who in fact ultimately decides who is to be judged.

38:38

Fernando interview

Super:

Christopher Fernando

Anwar lawyer

Fernando: Oh yes, in fact we were surprised he was going throughout the country and various parts of the world saying that Anwar was guilty of sodomy, that he had the evidence etcetera. But to my mind this is clearly contemptuous. We felt the prime minister committed acts of contempt. In fact we raised this matter during the course of the proceedings but the judge -- both the judges -- did not want to take any action.

39:02

Tivoli Villas

Williams: Despite Mahathir’s assertions of Anwar’s guilt, the prosecution ran in to some serious problems.

39:40

Tivoli Villas apartment block, in suburban Kuala Lumpur, would feature prominently in the trial.

It was here, in an apartment owned by Anwar’s adopted brother Sukma, that Anwar was alleged to have sodomised his driver, Azizan.

39:55

The prosecution first alleged the offence occurred in June 1994, but when Anwar could provide alibis, they changed it to one night in May 1992 - but Tivoli Villas wasn’t even completed then.

40:05

So the prosecution changed the date for a third time to one night at 7.30, sometime between January and March 1993.

40:21

Williams and Gobind inside apartment

Gobind: Well, this is where Anwar Ibrahim was seated, and as he got in ?? was sitting right there.

Williams: That's what he alleged?

Gobind: That's right, that's what he said.

40:32

Williams: On a tour of Sukma’s apartment, his lawyer, Gobind Singh, points out the next fundamental flaw in the prosecution’s case.

Gobind: This is where the incident allegedly happened according to Azizan.

40:52

Williams: The bed on which Anwar was alleged to have sodomised Azizan - aided and abetted by Sukma - had not even been delivered until mid-February 1993.

For every other night of the three month period postulated by the prosecution, the defence proved that Anwar was on official duties at the time of the offence.

41:08

Williams: In a normal criminal case, with the strength of the alibi that you had, what would normally have happened to this case?

Gobind: Acquittal.

Williams: No question about that?

Gobind: No question about it. I mean it doesn't matter whether the judge believes Azizan or not. The fact remains that he can't convict on these charges because we have shown that this offence could not have occurred from January to March. In fact, we've shown that this offence cannot have occurred at all, by demolishing Azizan's credibility, both as far as the allegations of sodomy are concerned, and as far as presence at the place or the commission of the offence at that point of time.

41:27

Fernando interview

Fernando: We proved that he was never there on any of those dates, despite the fact we had a three month period to cover, we covered everything.

41:57

Williams: During Christopher Fernando’s cross examination, principle accuser Azizan Abu Bakar made an astonishing admission - that in fact - he had never been sodomised by Anwar at all.

Fernando: I repeated the question a second time. I said I put it to you that you were never sodomised, that is why you continued to visit Anwar between 1992 to 1997. And he said yes again. I repeated the question a third time at the behest of the court. The court felt that maybe he didn’t understand so I repeated the question yet again and for the third time he admitted that he was never sodomised. That was when in fact everybody was quite shocked in court, including the prosecutors themselves. I stopped there -- the judge himself was taken aback.

42:25

Williams: Legally speaking what would normally have happened to a case like this where you had such a …

Fernando: Normally -- after Azizan admitted he was never sodomised, three times, the judge ought to have turned around to the prosecution and asked them do you still wish to pursue the matter. This man has admitted he was never sodomised, you know. So the entire case has been demolished.

43:15

Williams visits Azizan

Williams: Hello. Hello, is this Mr. Azizan…

43:44

Williams: Azizan twice refused Foreign Correspondent an interview…

44:07

Williams: Hello, I was after Mr. Azizan. Yeah, hi, Azizan? Evan Williams from ABC, sir, how are you?

Williams: …but when we found him, this key witness in the case against Anwar was reluctant to explain the many changes in his story.

44:12

Williams: …side of the story. What's wrong?

Woman: Why? Why?

Williams: Why… because…

Woman: Why, I will call police, you know.

Williams: Certainly… We're here to talk to Mr. Azizan about what happened, about why he kept changing evidence, about why you kept changing your story.

Woman: No way. You never get permission from us first.

Williams: Well, we're coming here to give him this opportunity to hear his side of the story. What's wrong, Mr. Azizan?

44:25

Azizan: Nothing wrong with me.

Williams: Why did you keep changing your evidence? This is an opportunity to have your say… There's a lot of people interested in what you've got to say sir… What's the problem? Do you have anything to say to us at all, sir? Do you have anything to say to us at all about why evidence kept changing, sir?… Sir, if you've got nothing to hide, why are doing this?… This is an opportunity to put the record straight, sir. There's a lot of people who are interested in what you've got to say… You're not interested?…

44:53

Williams: Despite his memory problems - Azizan Abu Bakar was deemed by the judge reliable as the key witness.

45:41

Karpal

Karpal: The fact that you change your stance you know at different points of time on the same issue, that itself shows you’re not a reliable witness and in all probability fabricating evidence

45:50

Williams: To Karpal Singh - Malaysia’s most senior civil rights lawyer - Azizan’s unreliable evidence was enough in itself to kill off the prosecution’s case.

46:04

Karpal: Our contention was that the case should have been thrown out at the close of the prosecution case itself. Many senior judges have in fact commented that had they sat on this case they would have thrown out the case without the defence being called.

46:15

Anti-Mahathir protestors

Williams: The fact it was not thrown out strongly suggests this was not a criminal case at all - but the political trial of Anwar Ibrahim.

46:38

Found guilty on all counts, Anwar was jailed for 15 years --

-- a decision condemned by jurists and leaders around the world.

Mahathir on tarmac

But Mahathir seems not care; his threat to Anwar of court action if he hadn't resigned, had been fulfilled.

47:04

Williams: Could I ask you about the international reaction to the Anwar trial, sir? Could I ask you for a comment on that, sir?

Mahathir: I don't care about that.

Williams: You don't care about that. Why did you change…

Mahathir: Mind your own business.

Williams: My own business, sir. The world is interested. Sir, why did you change your minds so dramatically on Anwar?

47:24

Williams: Dr. Mahathir, why did you so publicly condemn him, sir, when the evidence really wasn't there?

Mahathir: We will not accept the evidence.

Williams: I'm sorry, sir.

47:45

Karpal

Karpal: I think he wanted a conviction at all costs, because had there been no conviction that would have proved him wrong and that would have proved he was wrong in having dismissed his deputy. Those were the stakes.

40:00

Williams: And what of Anwar’s allegations of serious corruption in the government?

Taking his new duties in his stride Abdullah Badawi is the man who replaced Anwar as Malaysia's deputy prime minister.

Favoured, for now, by Mahathir, this usually straight-talking party stalwart dismisses Anwar’s allegations of corruption.

Badawi at press conference

Williams: What are your personal concerns about Malaysia's international image after the Anwar trial.

Badawi: What has that got to do with globalisation…

Williams: It's got a lot to do with it now, sir, because obviously transparency…

Badawi: …got anything to do with that…

48:37

Williams: There were very serious allegations raised in court, by Anwar and by others, about very high level corruption, of cronyism…

Super:

Abdullah Badawi

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister

Badawi: This is not something new. The battle for corruption has been going on even before, and now we'll continue to fight corruption. We do not pay lip service to these efforts that are being made at the moment, and we'll continue with that. There's nothing new about it. Thank you.

48:58

Williams: Sir, do you have any personal concerns yourself about the trial, about the finding?

Badawi: I just said just leave it to the court.

Williams: Will you be following up inquiries in any way to what's been raised?… There'll be no inquiry, sir.

49:14

Mahathir greets crowd

Williams: Likewise the Prime Minister sees no need for any inquiry in to any of Anwar’s allegations

49:36

Williams: Dr. Mahathir, will you launching an inquiry into the allegations of corruption that were raised in court?

Mahathir: You wouldn't believe it anyway.

Williams: Yes, we would, sir.

Mahathir: We are brown people – only white people know justice. Only you have a great system. That's why you are keeping all the blacks on the roadside.

Williams: No, sir, people are worried about injustice and corruption.

Wan Azizah and children get into car

Williams: With Anwar in jail, his wife Wan Azizah, has been thrust almost unwillingly in to the maelstrom of Malaysian politics.

50:09

And as she takes her daughters to see their father they only way they now can - through prison glass - Wan Azizah doesn’t expect any mercy for her husband.

Wan Azizah interview

Super:

Dr. Wan Azizah Ismail

Anwar's wife

Wan Azizah: Well, I sort of expected it because I think the institutions of government were not used to just acquit Anwar on the final verdict day. But when it came, well, it was like a blow, you know, you do expect it but when it lands it still hurts.

50:32

Munawar

Super:

Dr. Munawar Anees

Anwar's former speech writer

Munawar: Mahathir has shown his utmost meanness and criminality. At every step Mahathir has committed crimes against Anwar. Not a single, not a single so called legal proceeding against Anwar fulfils the legal requirements. The list of crimes of Mahathir, the Malaysian media and the Malaysian judiciary, and the Malaysian police, is endless.

50:52

Anwar with supporters

Williams: Anwar Ibrahim is now in jail for 15 years, the result of being a challenge to Dr Mahathir.

51:27

But in pursuing trumped up sodomy charges, Mahathir has offended the Malay sense of decency -- for the first time driving large numbers away from his ruling party.

Ezam interview

Ezam: We have now Malaysians who are very much aware of what is happening, of injustices and abuse of power on the part of the government, and very much critical and this is what the country needs at this moment.

51:48

Williams: If he serves the full 15 years, Anwar will be almost seventy when released, removed from the public arena for the term of his political life.

52:07

But until there’s a new leader in Malaysia, there seems little hope of reprieve for a someone whose only crime was to defy an old man who refuses to let go of power.

52:45

Credits:

Reporter: Evan Williams

Camera: Marc Laban

David Leland

Sound: Kate Gunn

Editor: Michael Nettleship

Producer: Virginia Moncrief