Najib supporters move to COUNTER online petition to Obama to make Anwar's release top U.S. priority

Following a petition urging US President Barack Obama to call for the release of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, another counter petition is gathering momentum demanding that Malaysia be respected as a sovereign nation.

Yesterday, an American from Virginia, identified as J.M., had called on the American President to speed up the release of the Opposition leader from incarceration and make it a top United State’s policy towards Malaysia.

The petitioner claimed Anwar was a champion of democracy, a believer in Islamic justice and a long-time friend of the US.

The person also said that Anwar was convicted and jailed on “trumped-up charges” and said that statements alone from the White House were not enough.

As of 8pm Malaysian time, the petition had garnered more than 24,800 signatures.

It needs 100,000 signatures by March 12 to get the attention of the White House.

Not to be outdone, a second petition calling for the U.S. government to respect Malaysia as a sovereign nation was put up by an individual identified as S.D. It is, however, uncertain where S.D. hails from.

The petition, launched today, also criticised the White House for expressing “deep disappointment” with Anwar’s conviction as well as questioning the rule of law and fairness of Malaysia’s judicial system.

“The DNA that supported this case matched 16 out of 16.

“Anwar also chose not to offer his own samples in court, which could have cleared him.

“Initially, Anwar offered 14 witnesses, but none came forward.

“He refused cross-examination,” the petition read.

It also demanded that the U.S. first look at its own human rights issue by stopping the torturing of detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

“We peace-loving Malaysians urge that USA stop interfering in Malaysia’s judiciary and rule of law.”

The petition has since gathered more than 600 signatures.

Anwar was sentenced to five years in jail by the Federal Court for sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, in 2008. - http://www.therakyatpost.com/