PUTRAJAYA: Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek has suggested that an open debate to be organised between lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and those who are reluctant to accept the court’s verdict on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case.
"We can work on organising an open forum and debate between Shafee and any pro-opposition organisations to encourage a more balanced view of the situation.
"There are still some out there who are still challenging the verdict and are painting a bad image of the country's legal system to foreign countries and calling it a conspiracy; this has to stop," he told reporters after a cheque presentation event here today.
Shabery said a televised open debate or forum could help the people better understand what had happened and why the courts reached such a decision.
"I feel that some quarters have misinterpreted the situation and added elements of drama to make it look as if the government is mistreating and training its guns on one individual," he said.
It was reported that several foreign governments and pro-opposition organisations, including the Malaysian Bar Council, were of the opinion that the government has practiced selective persecution against Anwar.
Last week, the Federal Court upheld the Appeal Court's decision in finding Anwar guilty of sodomy.
The government then issued a statement stating that the police report against Anwar was brought by a private individual - Anwar's former employee and private assistant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan and not by the government.
“The judges would have reached their verdict only after considering all the evidence in a balanced and objective manner. Malaysia has an independent judiciary, and there have been many rulings against senior government figures.
“In this case, exhaustive and comprehensive due process had been followed over many years. That process is now complete, and we call on all parties involved to respect the legal process and the judgment,” he said.