Lobbying to free Anwar as political prisoner normal, Sivarasa says after email leak
Zikri Kamarulzaman
Published: Mar 3, 2026 2:44 PM
Updated: 6:27 PM
Former PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah has confirmed that in 2016, party leaders, including himself, were in communication with a US political consultancy firm about getting Anwar Ibrahim out of prison.
This was in response to a MalaysiaNow report citing leaked emails, which alleged that PKR had worked with the Washington-based firm to exert pressure on then-premier Najib Abdul Razak.
When asked whether the emails were real, Sivarasa (above) said there were emails in 2016 between him and other PKR leaders and Perseus Strategies boss Jared Genser.
However, he stressed that lobbying for the release of political detainees was normal and "perfectly acceptable".
He said at the time of the emails, Anwar's detention on a second sodomy charge had already been referred to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions.
Published: Mar 3, 2026 2:44 PM
Updated: 6:27 PM
Former PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah has confirmed that in 2016, party leaders, including himself, were in communication with a US political consultancy firm about getting Anwar Ibrahim out of prison.
This was in response to a MalaysiaNow report citing leaked emails, which alleged that PKR had worked with the Washington-based firm to exert pressure on then-premier Najib Abdul Razak.
When asked whether the emails were real, Sivarasa (above) said there were emails in 2016 between him and other PKR leaders and Perseus Strategies boss Jared Genser.
However, he stressed that lobbying for the release of political detainees was normal and "perfectly acceptable".
He said at the time of the emails, Anwar's detention on a second sodomy charge had already been referred to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions.
Anwar Ibrahim
"The discussions with Genser were about a global campaign in a number of countries, including the US, to pressure for the release of Anwar, who had been unjustly jailed again in February 2015.
"Not much resulted from those efforts. Anwar remained in jail until Najib lost the general election in May 2018," Sivarasa told Malaysiakini.
Anwar was granted a full pardon after Pakatan Harapan took power.
Lobbying also in 1998
Sivarasa noted that lobbying efforts to release Anwar from prison had also been done when the PKR president was jailed in 1998, adding that such efforts were done for other political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela.
"Anwar was the world’s most famous political prisoner during the two unjust imprisonments inflicted on him, first by Dr Mahathir Mohamad and then Najib," the former Sungai Buloh MP said.
Besides releasing Anwar, the MalaysiaNow report also had Genser suggesting ways to persuade the White House to build political pressure against Najib’s government, which was then plagued by the 1MDB global financial scandal.
"The discussions with Genser were about a global campaign in a number of countries, including the US, to pressure for the release of Anwar, who had been unjustly jailed again in February 2015.
"Not much resulted from those efforts. Anwar remained in jail until Najib lost the general election in May 2018," Sivarasa told Malaysiakini.
Anwar was granted a full pardon after Pakatan Harapan took power.
Lobbying also in 1998
Sivarasa noted that lobbying efforts to release Anwar from prison had also been done when the PKR president was jailed in 1998, adding that such efforts were done for other political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela.
"Anwar was the world’s most famous political prisoner during the two unjust imprisonments inflicted on him, first by Dr Mahathir Mohamad and then Najib," the former Sungai Buloh MP said.
Besides releasing Anwar, the MalaysiaNow report also had Genser suggesting ways to persuade the White House to build political pressure against Najib’s government, which was then plagued by the 1MDB global financial scandal.
Nurul Izzah Anwar
PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar was said to have received those emails. Malaysiakini has contacted her for a response.
‘Communications plan’
The MalaysiaNow report came on the heels of a leaked 13-page document understood to be a “communications plan” prepared in August last year, allegedly as part of the late Daim Zainuddin’s family’s efforts to preserve his reputation amid legal action by the MACC.
The plan, designed to run over two years up to the next general election, outlined a strategy which seemingly seeks to undermine the government’s narrative by framing legal proceedings against Daim and his family as a politically motivated attack, rather than a legitimate anti-corruption effort.
PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar was said to have received those emails. Malaysiakini has contacted her for a response.
‘Communications plan’
The MalaysiaNow report came on the heels of a leaked 13-page document understood to be a “communications plan” prepared in August last year, allegedly as part of the late Daim Zainuddin’s family’s efforts to preserve his reputation amid legal action by the MACC.
The plan, designed to run over two years up to the next general election, outlined a strategy which seemingly seeks to undermine the government’s narrative by framing legal proceedings against Daim and his family as a politically motivated attack, rather than a legitimate anti-corruption effort.
Daim Zainuddin
Under a sub-heading titled “positioning”, one of the stated matters is to “raise doubts about political timing and motives” while humanising Daim and his family, as well as reframing public debate on fairness, due process, and transparency.
Police are investigating the public relations plan as an attempt to undermine the government.
Earlier today in Parliament, Anwar, when asked why the PKR lobbying was acceptable but Daim’s was not, said the two were not the same, as one was a fight for freedom, while the other sought to undermine the government.
Under a sub-heading titled “positioning”, one of the stated matters is to “raise doubts about political timing and motives” while humanising Daim and his family, as well as reframing public debate on fairness, due process, and transparency.
Police are investigating the public relations plan as an attempt to undermine the government.
Earlier today in Parliament, Anwar, when asked why the PKR lobbying was acceptable but Daim’s was not, said the two were not the same, as one was a fight for freedom, while the other sought to undermine the government.
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