Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim speaks out on sodomy trials: ‘clear travesty of justice’

‘I didn’t apply for a pardon because I was punished,’ Malaysia’s PM told parliament on Tuesday after opposition leaders had taken aim at his past

He said his sodomy trials were an injustice and had been recognised by Malaysia’s king as such, in response to remarks during Monday’s confidence vote

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks in parliament. Photo: Bernama/dpa

Published: 4:01pm, 20 Dec 2022

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was forced to revisit his sodomy convictions, after opposition leaders in the Muslim-majority nation took aim at his past during Monday’s confidence vote.

The sodomy trials were unjust and the king at the time, Sultan Muhammad V, had recognised this in 2018, Anwar told parliament on Tuesday. Anwar was eventually granted a royal pardon for his crimes.

“I didn’t apply for a pardon because I was punished. Make it clear on the record, in the Hansard,” Anwar said in his first parliament speech as prime minister. Instead, the monarch took the initiative to offer him the pardon because of a “clear travesty of justice”, he said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Wan Azizah Ismail arriving at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP

An opposition politician’s attempt to interrupt Anwar was quickly rebuffed. “I know this statement is painful for you, because this is what you have played up,” said the prime minister, as backbenchers thumped their desks in support.

Anwar’s rivals had made several references to the convictions as they debated the leader’s confidence vote on Monday. One MP spoke of the “rape and sodomy of democracy”, while another read aloud what he said was a news article headline ‘First Full-blown Homosexual Elected Prime Minister in an Islamic Country’.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil later questioned the existence of such a news agency, called Itali Agenzia Nova.

Anwar’s past has long been a sore spot for Malaysia’s majority Malay Muslims. While Anwar won Monday’s confidence vote easily, his rise to power last month capped a 24-year-wait that included multiple stints in prison.