Dragging a foreign government into Anwar’s campaign of repression is a blatant hypocrisy.
By pursuing the detention of a critic abroad, Anwar has not merely betrayed reform—he has brutally assaulted the very freedoms he once vowed to defend, shredding both his credibility and Malaysia’s democratic reputation.
-Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy
The arrest of Murray Hunter in Bangkok at Malaysia’s behest is a disgraceful stain on PM Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership and a despicable betrayal of the very ideals Anwar has long claimed to champion. For decades, Anwar stood on global stages proclaiming his commitment to democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression. Today, he stands exposed as a hypocrite—using state power to muzzle criticism and even dragging a foreign government into his campaign of repression. This blatant hypocrisy is sure to leave many of us feeling outraged and betrayed.
Key Criticisms by Murray Hunter
1. Accused MCMC & Police as Politicised Institutions
acting in a way that is aligned with or influenced by the current government.
2. MCMC Acting Beyond Jurisdiction for Self-Interest
and behaving in self-serving ways rather than simply enforcing its regulatory roles.
3. Intimidation of the Public through the MCMC and police, especially critics or dissenters. This includes using legal or regulatory mechanisms to silence or threaten.
4. Disappointment with Reform Promises-Hunter expresses that many of the promises Anwar’s government made (about reform, transparency, institutional checks, etc.) have not been fulfilled.
5. “Madani Government Self-Destruct Mode” and cracks appearing in public confidence, as supporters become disappointed and the government fails to live up to its apparent strength when contentious or challenging legislation arises. These cracks in public confidence are evident in the decreasing support for the government and the growing disillusionment among the public with the government's failure to deliver on its promises.
6. “Stark Realities” / Continuation of the Same Old Problems- despite the rhetoric of change, many structural or systemic issues persist: cronyism, economic inequality, policies still favour elites, monopolies continue, the legal system is stretched, defamation laws and restrictive laws remain.
7. Two-Tier System of Justice / Pardons Controversy, like commutations or pardons for convicted individuals (former political leaders), pointing to a double standard in how justice is applied — one set of rules for those connected, another for ordinary critics or citizens
Murray Hunter’s writings on corruption, censorship, misuse of the MCMC and police, and the betrayal of reform promises are not crimes.
They are the legitimate expressions of dissent upon which any real democracy depends. To criminalize such speech is intolerable; to export this persecution beyond Malaysia’s borders is an authoritarian abuse of international law. This underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action.
The Malaysian government must publicly admit or deny what is already widely reported internationally: that it requested Hunter’s arrest. Anything less is cowardice and deception. By pursuing the detention of a critic abroad, Anwar has not merely betrayed reform—he has brutally assaulted the very freedoms he once vowed to defend, shredding both his credibility and Malaysia’s democratic reputation.