Malaysia pioneering use of DNA as a tool for political suppression?

While the US and UK crank up the drive for mass internment of identities in DNA databases (see "Homo Delinquens: The Race of Born Suspects" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/26/18323702.php), Malaysia is being accused of focusing its DNA roundup on the political opposition. Although the US and UK genetic dragnets have met only token opposition (lip service by the ACLU crowd), the Malaysian government's proposal for forced DNA sampling of all "suspects" hit opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim very personally - so he is leading a heated battle against the proposal.

Anwar was deputy premier and groomed by Malaysian and Western rulers to succeed the country's then-reigning patriarch, Dr. Mahathir. But after a bitter feud with Mahathir, Anwar was convicted of sodomy in 1998, following a graphic trial in which a mattress on which he was alleged to have had sex with his family driver was repeatedly produced in court. All homosexual sex is illegal in Malaysia, punishable (as "sodomy") by up to 20 years in jail if convicted. He was freed from jail in 2004 after a court quashed his sodomy conviction.

But now he faces new charges of sodomizing a 23-year-old male aide. Anwar has refused to give a DNA sample in the present sodomy case. His supporters fear if a sample is taken, it would be tampered with so as to incriminate him at his upcoming new trial. So hours after Anwar was sworn in to Parliament, following a landslide election victory that returned him to Parliament after ten years' absence, he led a walkout to protest the proposed legislation. He said that the opposition had demanded the setting up of a select committee to study the bill first.

"We have walked out because they have refused to respond" to the request, he said. "So there's no point in staying and participating in this debate."

During the debate, Anwar said:

"The government had tabled this Bill on Monday without giving the opportunity to the members of parliament, including our friends who are still on the other side, to study it. And it was tabled in haste.

"This Bill is agreed upon by rapacious politicians but opposed by all experts and non-governmental and human rights organisations....it is clear that the current government and cabinet are afraid of the people's voice," he said.

The Home Minister responded with the classic police state line:

"I don't think they (the opposition) should attribute a sinister motive to it. If there is a case in court and you are not guilty, why should you worry about this bill?"

The ruling coalition has a majority in parliament and the bill requires a simple majority to pass.

Perhaps the the US and UK opposition (if it exists) should be paying close attention to what's happening in Malaysia, and consider the possibility of it happening at home.

See:
- "Malaysia denies targeting Anwar with new DNA bill"
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iws1KGkNUI8kmSO7easlUFvwCBOQ

- "Anwar, back in Malaysia parliament, stages walkout"
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gvk18e1IzUJ9V-VNzo1_wg-4mkWgD92RASQG0