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UPDATED VERSION. If not handled well, the Abdullah Administration will take the full brunt of a political sodomy that comes a-boomerang.

Those are the conclusions of two op-ed pieces in Malaysian Insider, one uncredited, the other by former journalist Leslie Lau.

In the uncredited piece, titled A different Malaysia 10 years on (after the first sodomy charge against Anwar Ibrahim), Malaysian Insider said any smear attempt to make Anwar a sodomite may not succeed due to watershed changes that had taken place in the judiciary, the mainstream and alternative media, the strengthening of the Opposition in political command, and -- most importantly -- a new Malaysian psyche that now has no fear in defying the might of the ruling government. Excerpts:

JUDICIARY:
In 2006, the Court of Appeal comprising Justices Gopal Sri Ram, Hashim Mohd Yusoff and James Foong unanimously allowed Sukma's appeal and set aside the conviction and jail sentence.

The judges said they were convinced that "in the circumstances, the conviction was wholly unsafe."

MEDIA
There will not be the Pravda-like journalism of 1998 which saw the NST, Malay Mail, RTM and TV3 convict Anwar even before he stepped into court. Why? Because the editors know that the punishment from Malaysians will be swift and painful. Why? Because the media bosses know that unlike 1998, Malaysia’s alternative media is fully developed.

If the mainstream media is one-sided, Anwar and his supporters can take comfort that the public will turn to the vast number of blogs and news portals that have mushroomed in the last decade for their source of information.

THE OPPOSITION
Today, Opposition politicians have the stature and command the respect of a significant number of Malaysians. They have the numbers and can send the country into paralysis with demonstrations if they choose to do so.

A MALAYSIA THAT SAYS 'NO FEAR'
If the police believe that they can walk up to Anwar’s spacious home, whisk him away in unmarked police cars and detain him indefinitely under the Internal Security Act like they did in 1998, they will be in for a rude shock. Not only will Pakatan Rakyat bring large crowds onto the streets across the country but the authority of the BN government to rule Malaysia will be severely undermined.

Anwar has to be given due process, the police investigations must be transparent, and the evidence must be able to withstand the toughest scrutiny. Otherwise, it will be Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his administration which will end up being on trial. And it will not be a pretty sight.

'Push for a collapse'

On the other hand, Lau said the best way for Anwar to head off any criminal charges will be to work overtime to push for a collapse of the current administration.

Conversely, Lau added, the only way for the Abdullah Administration to avoid such a scenario will be to conduct a thorough, professional probe into the allegations -- with a caveat. Quote:

The result of any investigation will have to be conclusive and credible, especially when presented with a public which has grown distrustful of the authorities.

That will be an uphill task.

Early this morning, hours after the news broke, current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi felt it pertinent to reiterate that the Barisan Nasional Government was not behind the latest allegation of sodomy against Anwar.

PKR held a press conference at 1.20am this (Sunday) morning to deny the allegations on behalf of Anwar.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang posted in his blog, also early this Sunday morning, that he had spoken to Anwar over the phone. "I have spoken to Anwar over the phone and he is expecting the worst," Kit said.

Meanwhile, I strongly suggest all parties in Pakatan Rakyat filter thoroughly all their newly recruited cadres and volunteers to prevent moles from being planted within.

I have just rushed back to KL from Penang a while ago to pledge solidarity in this pressing time.

Let's see who ultimately gets sodomised this time around as the media -- local and foreign -- get worked up in fetish orgasm.