MAINTAINING that Malaysia’s sodomy laws are “archaic”, Anwar Ibrahim will likely see to their amendment when he is made prime minister.

The PKR president-elect was convicted and jailed twice for sodomy – the first time in the late 1990s, after he was sacked as deputy prime minister, and the second time in 2014, when he was planning to contest the Kajang by-election.

The first conviction was overturned in 2004, and he was granted a royal pardon for the second conviction following Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the May 9 general election.

In an interview on Al Jazeera’s UpFront programme, aired this morning, Anwar said he views the country’s sodomy laws as outdated and in need of an amendment.

“They are British colonial laws introduced in India and applied in Malaysia. They are not only archaic, but completely unjust. One can be accused without proper evidence. In my case, clearly.”

Journalist Mehdi Hasan had brought up a 2012 interview Anwar gave The Wall Street Journal, in which he described the sodomy laws as “archaic” and said they should be amended.

Hasan also asked Anwar if he will amend the laws when he becomes prime minister.

Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia, and a person convicted of the crime can face 20 years’ jail and whipping.

Anwar said if there is a case against homosexuality, it must be dealt with transparently.

“The laws must be amended to secure and ensure justice in the process.

“It’s not a matter of sexual orientation. It is what you perform or display publicly that is against the norms of the majority of Malaysians – not only Muslims, but Christians, Hindus and Buddhists alike in this country.”

Hasan cited Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s statement last month, that it is haram (forbidden) to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and their fight for equality, and that their lifestyle should be kept behind closed doors.

“You said if people have their own sexual orientation, it is up to them. Who should Malaysians, especially Muslims, listen to on this issue? Your wife or you, the prime minister-in-waiting?” said Hasan.

Anwar said Dr Wan Azizah meant that the sexual act is haram – a matter not disputed in religious texts.

“She is an intelligent leader in her own right. I don’t see any contradiction between my views and hers on this.”

He said he recently condemned the public caning of two lesbians by the shariah court in PAS-ruled Terengganu.

“I thought it was unjust, although they had used shariah as a basis. But we cannot defend such actions.”

He said caning an offender in public without going through the proper processes, and without showing sympathy, is something unacceptable to Malaysians.

The two women were caned in front of some 100 people earlier this month for attempting to have sex in a car in a public square in Kuala Terengganu.

Asked if he agreed with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Najib Razak is totally responsible for the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, Anwar said: “Yes. I raised this (1MDB issue) in Parliament in 2011. I stood by it until I went to jail.

“Najib had chaired many meetings and instructed the authorities on dispersing the funds. It was atrocious, and the worst financial scandal involving any government.”

He acknowledged that the people are getting impatient waiting for justice to be served, but stressed that the government must heed the law.

He said investigations must be carried out professionally, prosecutions done without malice, and the judiciary must be independent.

Former prime minister Najib earlier this week was slapped with 25 corruption and money laundering charges in relation to the 1MDB scandal. – September 22, 2018.