Got shafted on this one, didn’t you, PKR? Now quit larkin’ about and show us what you have!

After Bala’s now infamous about-turn this morning, PKR assembled a PC in the afternoon. The full text of Sivarasa’s press statement can be read HERE.

I just want to draw attention to some of the things that Sivarasa said today :

‘Yesterday, in this very room… Mr. Bala Subramanian released a Statutory Declaration… In front of dozens of persons, Mr. Bala stood by his sworn statement, but in an answer to a question he acknowledged his fear for his personal security due to the power and position of those he has implicated. I am very troubled that last night, one way or another, and true to Mr. Bala’s concerns, another crime was committed.

…This sorry episode confirms again what Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday – that there is a consistent pattern of manipulation of the criminal justice system in this country. Last night witnessed yet another instance of manipulation of evidence relevant to the most significant murder trial in recent times.

…We are fully satisfied that the first statutory declaration by Mr. Bala was voluntary and with the intention the truth should no longer be hidden from the public – that it was important for us to know the secrets he had carried with him since October /November 2006. Our confidence in the original declaration is based on the information given to us by Mr. Americk Singh Sidhu and our observation of Mr. Bala himself.

…We demand that a Royal Commission be established to investigate the key question stated above – which of these two statutory declarations represents the truth?’

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The views of two commentators to the ‘1st July or 4th?’ post :

From tzarina at 10.17pm :

‘…Anwar and PKR should have learnt a lesson today. When you use someone as a public informant against the most powerful figure in politics, you should not let your informant fend for himself and his family alone against the vultures. THEY do not have an embassy to protect them…

From Toyolbuster at 8.49pm :

‘…I just can’t understand how on earth could Bala’s 1st lawyer just drop him off into the lion’s den unaccompanied, knowing the damning consequences that he faces immediately after the 1st PC. How could Anwar just let him walk off unprotected knowing damn well he was most certainly the prime target after such an explosive exposure by him. I would, if I was Anwar, take Bala into hiding and protect him of his dear life, or at least get the best lawyers to represent him in such event that he was asked to go into the police station. But hell no, his brilliant lawyer just dropped him off at the gate of the police station. No wonder Bala got rid of him real quick. And serve you right Anwar for using Bala and dumping him just after he has served your purpose. Are we looking forward to a new government, you tell me’

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Assume that Sivarasa’s assertion that Bala’s first SD was ‘voluntary and with the intention the truth should no longer be hidden from the public’ is well-founded.

Assume that the first SD was indeed voluntarily made.

Did they not think there was a need to lend Bala some sort of protection against any sort of pressure after releasing such a damning SD?

Siva says now that Bala yesterday ‘acknowledged his fear for his personal security due to the power and position of those he has implicated’.

Siva is now ‘very troubled that last night, one way or another, and true to Mr. Bala’s concerns, another crime was committed’ ?

Remember the release of part 1 of the VK Lingam video in September last year and the refusal by Siva and another to disclose the identity of the whistleblower?

Remember the ACA threat to jail them if they did not disclose?

Malaysiakini reports Sivarasa responding as follows to that threat :

‘If we have to take the punishment to protect our source, so be it’

You guys forgot to protect your source yesterday?

Much as I respect Siva, perhaps the most laughable part of his press statement today is this :

…We demand that a Royal Commission be established to investigate the key question stated above – which of these two statutory declarations represents the truth?’

Another huge bill for the rakyat when the answer is just another press conference away?

A comment sent in by Ashok to the ‘1st July or 4th’ post at 8.35pm hits the nail squarely on its head :

‘They are playin politics over a murdered woman. If they say they have “evidence” implicating someone in murder, then, for god’s sake just bloody reveal them. No need for stupid SD’S that are susceptible to human fallibility. And don’t just say that the evidence will revealed in “due course”. That will earn them more respect and credibility. So, Anwar and PKR, just ******** reveal this evidence that you have, if not, you are as low down as the ones you point your fingers at’

During the PC yesterday, one of the journos present asked Anwar whether the only evidence they had was the SD.

Anwar’s reply to this starts at 2 minutes and 50 seconds into the video clip below.

If you’re too lazy to check, this is what he says ;

‘We will adduce further evidence soon. This is not the end. i just want to test, not only the nerve, but the commitment. Prime Minister said everything should be professional, okay…

3 minutes and 45 seconds into the video clip, Anwar also says :

‘The other evidence will come, you just be patient, in the next few days, hopefully…it’s like the VK Lingam video tape, cannot be..dia kena ada like a series of bollywood drama…’