On the Circus that got to America

There's more than meets the eye.

The recent visit of Nazri Aziz to Washington's CSIS was quickly condemned as a failure and waste of public funds. Lim Kit Siang quickly joined in the chorus to say the same. Malaysia Today carried stories by its writers that the event held by CSIS was such a non event, that our Ambassador to the US was bored. Several people carried embellished stories about how our ambassador JJ was seen doodling on his blackberry or reading papers.

Let's listen to a possible alternative story.

First, have anyone asked the question as to how reporters from Malaysia Today or Malaysiakini got into the seminar or briefing? Usually, such an event would be a by-invitation only event. So unless we are told that people from Malaysia Today or Malaysiakini were invited which they weren't, the only way they got into the forum/seminar was by way of gate crashing. That would immediately add a different flavor to the reporting emanating from there right? Any lawyer worth his salt would quickly assail the characters of people who gate crashed into somebody else's party. A slighted person can't possibly give a balanced reporting.

Not many people knew that Anwar Ibrahim's friends in the US tried to lobby Congress and campaigned to have the event by CSIS cancelled. In other words, they would only agree to a one way street explanation- that from Anwar's side. They wanted Americans to remain uninformed.

But we understand how Americans think too. While Americans can be very expressive and partisan in their support to a particular person and/or to a cause, they are also rational people. What Anwar Ibrahim and his US supporters are afraid of is the possibility that an explanation of Malaysia's position over many issues may damage a particular and biased cultivated perception of Malaysia. What if someone from Malaysia articulate enough and pugilistic enough were to explain Malaysia's position over several contentious issues can be successful in dismembering the hitherto false and partisan flavored image of Malaysia? That would certainly swayed America's perception of Malaysia right?

In particular, what if we can offer a reasonable rebuttal to the claim that Anwar Ibrahim's ongoing case isn't at all a political prosecution? We are not asking America to support us against Anwar Ibrahim. But what the government is doing is to provide a reasonable explanation of Malaysia's position and stand over these matters to a sufficient degree that seeks Americans to have an open mind. This is to accept that Anwar Ibrahim's trial isnt at all a political prosecution. It must be seen as its rightful status- it's a litigation involving private persons; Anwar Ibrahim and his accuser. The duty of any court for that matter is to hear both sides. What Anwar Ibrahim is doing right now, is to deny everyone and more so America, from hearing both sides.

Why is Anwar Ibrahim so afraid of our ability to tell our side of the story?