This news came to me as a fresh move. His words “hidden hands may be at work here”are a tipical conspiracy-minded statement rampant in the Muslim world. (Lily)
Japan Times(http://www.japantimes.co.jp)
Narita bars Malaysia’s opposition chief Anwar, 20 January 2014
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Monday he was “puzzled and shocked” after being barred entry to Japan, as his party questioned whether Malaysia’s ruling coalition was behind the move.
Anwar said he arrived at Narita International Airport on a personal visit early Sunday and was told by immigration authorities he was barred due to his 1999 conviction for sodomy and corruption.
The controversial conviction, which cast the then-rising political star out of Malaysia’s longtime ruling party and into jail for six years, is viewed by many as a frame-up by his enemies.
“I am puzzled and shocked by the incident,” Anwar, 66, said.
“It is not the way for a democratic country to treat an opposition political leader and a veteran politician.”
He called on Malaysia to “probe this incident and lodge a strong protest against Tokyo.”
Anwar said he protested by telling immigration that the 1999 conviction was an invalid reason to bar his entry and that he had visited Japan three times since 2006 without incident.
Officials told him vaguely that they were responding to a more recent “report” against him, he said.
Anwar added that he had been invited to Japan to deliver a speech on interreligious harmony by an NGO. He returned to Malaysia on a later flight.
In a blog posting, Anwar said he felt “hidden hands may be at work here” and demanded an explanation from Malaysia’s foreign ministry.
“The barring of Anwar Ibrahim from entering Japan raises serious questions on the involvement of (the Malaysian) government,” Anwar’s People’s Justice Party said in a separate statement.
Malaysia’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Anwar said the Japanese Embassy in Malaysia had told him before the trip there would be no problem entering the country. Embassy officials declined immediate comment.
Malaysia’s ruling coalition has steadily lost ground in parliament since Anwar officially became opposition leader in 2008.
The opposition accuses the coalition of a long-running campaign of harassment and false charges designed to smear Anwar.
Shortly after a historic strong 2008 opposition showing, Anwar faced new charges of illicit sex with a former male aide. Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
A court acquitted Anwar in 2012 but the government is appealing the decision.
Later in 2012 he was accused of illegal assembly over an anti-government protest, but a court dismissed those charges earlier this month.
(End)
