The Guang Ming interview with Raja Petra

malaysiatoday | ... Raja Petra Kamarudin told Guang Ming Daily that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim nearly died in the lock-up when he was arrested in 1998. It aroused his indignation and therefore he decided to return to the political arena and thereafter launched the Free Anwar Campaign.

“Politics is politics. Perhaps Anwar should be punished, but not under the allegations of sodomy. He shouldn't be assaulted, or worse, almost killed,” said Raja Petra.

He said that according to the medical report he had seen, Anwar suffered a near fatal injury.

“The only reason Anwar was not killed was because former Federal Commercial Crimes Investigation Director Datuk Ramli Yusoff managed to stop former Inspector-General of Police Abdul Rahim Noor,” he said.

He initially worked for PKR when it was formed in 1999 but chose to launch the Free Anwar Campaign outside the party in 2000, as he wanted the whole world to know about the Anwar issue.

“It was not only about Anwar but also about what was happening in our country's political arena. Anwar was an issue but it was not the only issue,” he said.

On 11 April 2001, Raja Petra, together with nine opposition party members, was detained for 52 days under the Internal Security Act. On 13 August 2004, he set up the website called Malaysia Today. Two weeks later, on 2 September 2004, Anwar was released from jail.

He stressed that he is a full-time website editor. He chose not to directly participate in politics as he wanted to be free to criticise injustice with impartially.

He said: “Regardless if it is the ruling party or the opposition, once you do something wrong I'll criticise you.... selanjutnya.