From The Financial Times, UK
14th January 2000

By Sheila McNulty in Singapore

The Malaysian government on Thursday denied allegations that the arrests of three key critics were part of a crackdown on its political opponents.

"It is a normal matter that does not require any directive or policy decision," Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, deputy prime minister, told Bernama news agency. "It is not something done suddenly, because, right after the offences were committed, police received reports from various quarters."

However, critics of the government were sceptical because the authorities chose to respond months after the alleged offences took place, and charged senior members of the three opposition parties within hours of each other.

"It's extremely abnormal to suddenly close in on opposition leaders," said Elizabeth Wong, co-ordinator of Suaram, the human rights group.

"These latest actions by the government show its utter intolerance for criticism from any quarters. It may be year 2000, but we are inching closer to year zero for freedom of opinion and expression."

Karpal Singh, deputy leader of the DAP party and lawyer for the former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, and Zulkifli Sulong, editor of the popular Harakah newspaper of the PAS party, together with Marina Yusoff, vice-president of the Keadilan party, were charged on Wednesday under the colonial-era Sedition Act. That legislation bars speech that might "bring into hatred or contempt or excite disaffection" against the authorities.

Mr Karpal's arrest, for comments his party said he made while defending Mr Anwar in court, were particularly shocking to analysts because they are considered privileged. "Malaysia has again resorted to strong-arm tactics to silence its critics rather than playing by the rules of international law," the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights said in a statement from New York.

The arrests came as Mahathir Mohamad, the prime minister, left the country on a two-week vacation, placing Mr Abdullah, who is also home minister in charge of police, in control.