MyDD :: Crazy times in Malaysia

Crazy times in Malaysia

by Jerome Armstrong, Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 01:30:25 PM EST

I can't help but follow the news out of Malaysia, having just gotten back from a trip there last month. Here's how Simon Tisdall describes it in today's Guardian:

An accelerating national drama involving leading government figures, conspiracy claims, personal smears, sodomy allegations and a grizzly murder appears to be driving Malaysia inexorably towards its biggest political upheaval since independence in 1957.

The latest scandal is all about the sodomy charges against the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, but there are all sorts of wrinkles, both historical and new, in the situation.

It's a bit different than arguing about whether Obama is moving to the 'center' or not...

I don't know what to make of the accusations against Anwar, as its a repeat of earlier thrown-out charges. Turmoil in Malaysia is about right, in that it throws it back upon the judicial system, and the expected reforms that have been happening, for as to how its sorted out.

Update [2008-7-3 13:48:24 by Jerome Armstrong]: Via his blog, Anil Netto, has a background/big picture article, Brinksmanship in polarized Malaysia, in the Asia Times:

Where is all this leading to? Taking a step back and looking at the larger picture, I believe this high-stakes “tennis match” (lob and counter-lob) symbolises the battle between the new political order and the old, the tsunami vs the hegemony. I don’t think it is a healthy development though, for politics to be so personalised. The tsunami movement for reforms and change is too broad-based to be focused on individuals at the apex slugging it out for their political survival - but there you go.

Tags: Malaysia (all tags)

Permalink :: 5 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Crazy times in Malaysia (none / 0)

a grizzly murder

They have grizzlies in Malaysia?

Who knew??

by RT on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 01:33:13 PM EST

Re: Crazy times in Malaysia (none / 0)

hey, did you get that from the comments is free board!

by Jerome Armstrong on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 01:50:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crazy times in Malaysia (none / 0)

I'm having trouble even parsing that sentence, Jerome. Did you mean, did I get that from the comments at some board?

At any rate, I didn't. It was just the first thing that popped into my head. I'm sure that was true for plenty of other people too.

by RT on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 07:09:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Just give them time (none / 0)

... sodomy charges ...

It's a bit different than arguing about whether Obama is moving to the 'center' or not...

The last "kitchen sink" strategy against Obama didn't work and neither will McLame's.

by Beren on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 01:35:03 PM EST

Hmmm - - do they have significant oil reserves? (none / 0)

Do their leaders say mean things about our leaders?
If not, expect no attention from Washington!

John McCain says he would stay in Iraq for 100 years? That's crazy talk!

by kosnomore on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 01:44:58 PM EST

You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.