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After Anwar Ibrahim sentenced, Malaysian authorities arrest popular cartoonist Zunar
Sydney Morning Herald - February 11, 2015
Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar ordered the arrest after the cartoonist tweeted "black suited lackeys proud to announce sentence" and "reward for political masters must be worth it."
Mr Khalid warned that other arrests could follow as Malaysia faced a reshaping of its political landscape after Mr Anwar began a five year jail sentence following his conviction on Tuesday under a rarely used sodomy law.
The conviction also means than Mr Anwar, 67, will be banned from politics for five years with no further right of appeal, effectively ending his long and often volatile political career.
Police took Mr Zunar, 51, whose real name is Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, into custody at his home on Tuesday night. Police also arrested opposition MP Nag Kor Ming who tweeted "it is time the people went against this unjust regime."
For months, as political tensions have grown ahead of the country's highest court ruling on Mr Anwar's case, authorities have used the sedition law to arbitrarily arrest opposition MPs, activists and academics critical of the ruling coalition that has remained in power for 58 years.
In 2011 prime minister Najib Razak had promised to abolish the law under which offenders face up to five years jail.
Human rights groups have condemned use of the law that broadly outlaws any tendency that would "bring into hatred or contempt or excite disaffection against any ruler or any government."
Amid widespread international condemnation of Mr Anwar's jailing, prosecutors in the case issued a statement accusing the opposition leader of undermining the reputation of his own country.
"The great smear is the much-repeated allegation by Anwar Ibrahim that this case was politically motivated," they said.
But after castigating the judges in court after they delivered their verdict, Mr Anwar issued another blistering attack on them through his office and declared that his head remains high.
"Going to jail I consider a sacrifice I make for the people of this country," he said. "My struggle will continue wherever I am sent and whatever is done to me."
The charges against Mr Anwar relating to an alleged act with a male aid, which the opposition leader describes as a "complete fabrication," created deep divide in the country of 28 million people.
Many people believe he is the victim of a political vendetta while others saw his conspiracy claim as a ruse to cover illegal actions.
Analysts say Mr Anwar's jailing could prompt upheavals in the fragile opposition alliance that he founded which won the popular vote at elections in 2013 but lost the seat count due to rural gerrymandering.
But they say Mr Anwar's absence from politics could provide fresh momentum for the multi-ethnic and multi-religious alliance where a new generation of leaders are beginning to emerge.
Mr Najib's leadership is under pressure within his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) from hardline conservatives including the abrasive 87 year-old former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
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