NEWS RELEASES
CANADA EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER MALAYSIAN CONVICTIONS
August 9, 2000 (3:05 p.m. EDT) No. 196
CANADA EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER MALAYSIAN CONVICTIONS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, Finance Minister Paul Martin and Secretary of State
(Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan today expressed Canada's deep concern over the convictions of
Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and
Sukma Darmawan, on charges of sodomy.
Mr. Anwar received a nine-year prison term while Mr. Sukma was sentenced to six years in
prison and four strokes of the cane. The convictions are a result of a trial held in Kuala Lumpur
that Canada believes was seriously flawed. Minister Axworthy said that the failure of the trial to
meet international human rights standards highlights the international community's serious
concerns about the Malaysian judicial system.
Mr. Axworthy quoted the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Abid Hussain, who
in his report on Malaysia stated that, "the executive should not be permitted to use the judiciary
in such a manner that would be seen by the people as an attempt to restrict their rights. The
impartiality of the judiciary should not be called into question."
"Canada is concerned over the deterioration of the independence of Malaysia's judicial system.
Furthermore, allegations of misconduct against senior judges in that country are diminishing the
credibility of the entire legal process," Minister Axworthy said. "We have called in the Malaysian
High Commissioner today to register our consternation directly with governmental authorities
over Mr. Anwar's trial and sentencing."
"Mr. Anwar is a respected colleague and a man of integrity, who in his capacity as Finance
Minister showed strong dedication to enhancing the financial well-being of the Malaysian
people," said Minister Martin. "The international community notes with concern the
irregularities in his trial, which reflect poorly on the impartiality of Malaysia's judicial system."
"An erosion of confidence in the rule of law in Malaysia not only threatens democracy in that
country but also raises questions about the current government's respect for human rights and
good governance," said Mr. Chan.
Mr. Axworthy noted that the convictions of Mr. Anwar and Mr. Sukma were the most glaring
examples of the deterioration in Malaysia's judicial system over the past few years. He also cited
past convictions, as well as current trials of Malaysian opposition and NGO figures, such as Lim
Guan Eng, Irene Fernandez, Karpal Singh and journalists such as Canadian Murray Hiebert.
Mr. Axworthy called on the Malaysian government to restore the independence and credibility of
the legal system by following recommendations made recently by the UN human rights
rapporteurs and by the international legal community in a report entitled, "Justice in Jeopardy:
Malaysia in 2000." The report, published jointly by the International Bar Association, the Centre
for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers of the International Commission of Jurists,
Commonwealth Lawyers' Association and Union International des Avocats, is available on the
Internet at http://www.ibanet.org/misc/pressrel.asp.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Hilary Humphrey
Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)
(613) 995-1852
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Nathalie Gauthier
Office of the Minister of Finance
(613) 996-7861
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca.
|