I will always remember Tok Guru Nik Aziz for his utter simplicity, his humble lifestyle and his genuine openness to inter-religious dialogue.
He lived in a modest kampung house, used a BIC ballpoint pen, and did not have much use for the trappings of power. Once when I interviewed him, along with a colleague from Aliran, I was startled that he opted to sit on the floor for the interview. This was the Menteri Besar of Kelantan, mind you.
Another night, another vigil. An eyewitness at the scene estimates the crowd to be at least 200.
Malam ini, di Sg Buloh. Solidariti buat @anwaribrahim. #BebasAnwar #KitaLawan pic.twitter.com/9DLitlP0qr
— Fahmi Fadzil (@fahmi_fadzil) February 12, 2015
His final words pierced the night air: “Please, Malaysians – Malays, Chinese, Indians, Dayaks, Kadazans – please stand up; stand up for your rights. Stand up for your children. Stand up for the future of this country. Stand up and be counted. We are Malaysians! Re-for-ma-si! Lawan, tetap…”
Even as 1MDB struggles to repay its debts, a vigil is taking place at Sungai Buloh Prison to express solidarity with Anwar Ibrahim. At this rate, he could turn into a Mandela-like figure in no time. He has already been in jail/detention for eight years: two years in the 1970s and six years since 1998. Now, another five years.
Penjara Sungai Buloh. #BebasAnwar pic.twitter.com/DiAf9CCWlX
— AMK Malaysia (@AMKMalaysia) February 11, 2015
Pray for our friend Zunar, who is being locked up under a sedition probe over tweets he made during the Anwar trial.
Zunar is being remanded for four days until Saturday noon. Why four days to investigate tweets?
Zunar, Malalysian cartoonist locked up for criticizing judiciary, can't stop drawing. Sent this from jail. -via mkini pic.twitter.com/6UjiINTFyY
— Thomas Fuller (@thomasfullerNYT) February 11, 2015
Bersih 2.0 and Engage have come up with a new video to raise awareness about the issue of gerrymandering and malapportionment of constituencies in view of an ongoing redelineation exercise by the Election Commission.
There are actually two questions here.
1) Is Anwar’s political career over?
2) Will the reformasi movement, the quest for reforms, be stalled or derailed?
A large crowd gathered outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.
The social reform group Aliran has released a scathing immediate reaction to the verdict in the Anwar trial and the upholding of a five-year jail term.
Check it out here. And check out Anwar’s full response here.
I am shocked at the verdict, and I am not the only one. I have been receiving a steady stream of outrage from other concerned Malaysians via text, email, Whatapp, social media and blog comments.
It is D-Day today for Anwar Ibrahim – and the judiciary too is coming under the international media spotlight.
Doesnt look good now. Judges give reasons to justify why all the inconsistencies re Saiful credibility. Judges r saying Saiful is credible
— Rafizi Ramli (@rafiziramli) February 10, 2015
Police outside Palace of Justice form tighter ranks as crowds await news on @anwaribrahim's Sodomy 2 verdict pic.twitter.com/mlR3I3KRHK
— BFM News (@NewsBFM) February 10, 2015
Speaking ahead of the Federal Court verdict, Anwar Ibrahim tells the BBC he is convinced the struggle for reforms will go on even if he is sent back to jail.