Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received on the conviction against Anwar Ibrahim, Leader of the Opposition of Malaysia; if he will raise his conviction for sodomy with his Malaysian counterpart; and if he will assess whether the charge and conviction of Anwar Ibrahim is a case of political persecution.

Along with Parliamentary Question 211845, answered on 29 October 2014 (www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?) and correspondence from Members of Parliament and Peers, we have also received letters from members of the public on this issue.

My right hon. and noble Friend the former Minister of State, Baroness Warsi met Anwar Ibrahim during her visit to Malaysia in April and raised his case with senior members of the Malaysian government. Our High Commission in Malaysia has discussed the matter with Malaysian ministers and officials on a number of occasions. The former Minister of State again met Anwar Ibrahim during the latter’s visit to the UK in June.

Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal against his conviction is being monitored closely by officials from our High Commission in Malaysia who are attending court hearings alongside other local diplomatic missions. We are aware of allegations that the case is politically motivated. As the case is not yet concluded, it would be inappropriate to comment further.