Malaysian Government Accused Of Channeling Ehud Barak

Saying that Malaysia's government slogan is based on Israel's can get you suspended from Parliament:

Malaysia's ruling coalition has won a parliamentary vote to suspend Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader, from the legislature for six months.

Anwar had been accused of abusing "his right and privileges as an MP" after he criticised the government's "One Malaysia" slogan for national unity.


The opposition leader said the slogan was inspired by "One Israel", the name used for the political alliance of Ehud Barak, the former Israeli prime minister, ahead of the 1999 Knesset elections.

Anwar and dozens of other opposition legislators stormed out of parliament's lower house during the vote on Thursday, following scenes of pandemonium and shouting. Some opposition members held posters denouncing the lower house as "a kangaroo court", claiming Anwar was unfairly targeted.

Ibrahim's mistake was that he apparently was also under the impression that the Malaysian parliament was modeled after the Israeli Knesset's liberal attitude toward criticism.

Technorati Tag: One Malaysia.