From The Australian.com
Mr Anwar was speaking ahead of his acquittal today on sodomy charges.
Asked about Canberra’s proposed people-swap deal with Malaysia, Mr Anwar said the opposition could not support a program shrouded in secrecy.
“How do you expect us to support a program knowing the notorious record that we have treating foreign labour, treating illegal immigrants in this country?” he told ABC Radio.
“Have you forgotten and thrown the whole principle of the rule of law (and) constitutional rights to the sea?
“This may not be to the liking of the Australian government but I don’t think they should expect us to support a program that runs contrary to these principles.”
The Gillard government wants to send 800 people who arrive in Australia by boat to Malaysia for processing in exchange for accepting 4000 genuine refugees.
Labor has offered to reopen the Howard government-era detention centre on Nauru in exchange for coalition support for its controversial plan but the talks have so far proven fruitless.
Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott last week made it clear he is in no mood for compromise over the “dud” Malaysian deal.
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said that ”justice had been served” with his acquittal in a contentious sodomy trial and pledged to topple the government in the next elections.
”Thank God, justice has been served,” Anwar told reporters after a Malaysian judge pronounced him not guilty after a nearly two-year trial that he has denounced as a government attempt to cripple his strengthening opposition.
After the verdict, three small explosions were heard outside the court, with police blaming firecrackers.
The small but loud blasts occurred within minutes of each other after Anwar left the courthouse.
Witnesses said two people were taken away in an ambulance with minor injuries but AFP could not immediately confirm this.
Police said the blasts were due to firecrackers but would not confirm whether anyone was hurt.
At least one of the explosions damaged a motorcycle and shattered the window of a van, according to AFP journalists at the scene.
One of the blasts appeared to have exploded under a police cone.
Police cordoned off the affected areas and pushed back reporters, declining further comment other than to say firecrackers had been set off and that they were investigating.
Crowds estimated by police to number at least 5000 had gathered outside the court from before dawn in a show of support for the 64-year-old Anwar.
The blasts occurred as his supporters were rallying in the streets to celebrate the verdict.
Mr Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, spent six years in jail on sodomy and corruption counts in a stunning fall from grace after he fell out with his then boss, former premier Mahathir Mohamad.
The sodomy conviction was eventually overturned and Mr Anwar was released in 2004 before facing fresh charges in 2008 of having sex with a male former aide.
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