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Malaysians are likely going to protest again. Just in time for his by-election. I thought Malaysia Judicial system very independent one? LOL. You think the Malaysians will protest near Merlion again? http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26479642 Malaysia: Anwar Ibrahim sodomy acquittal overturned A Malaysian court has overturned the acquittal of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on sodomy charges, upholding a government appeal. Mr Anwar led the opposition to its strongest ever performance in the May 2013 general elections. While homosexual acts are illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia, very few people are ever prosecuted. Mr Anwar has always maintained the charges were part of a political smear campaign. The court decision may affect Mr Anwar's plans to compete in a key by-election in the state of Selangor this month. His lawyers are expected to appeal the court ruling, Reuters news agency reported. 'Selective persecution' In 2008, Mr Anwar was accused of having sex with a male aide. A High Court cleared him of the charges in 2012, citing a lack of evidence. The government later appealed against his acquittal. Ahead of the court decision, rights group Human Rights Watch called the government appeal a "travesty of justice". The group said it was a sign of Prime Minister Najib Razak's "selective persecution of his political opponents". Correspondents say Mr Anwar is seen as the key challenger to the ruling party, which has been in power since Malaysia's independence in 1957. The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition won 133 of the 222 seats in parliament in the 2013 elections - although it won the elections, it was the coalition's worst ever result. Thousands of Malaysian opposition supporters rallied against the result, alleging that the polls were fraudulent. Mr Anwar was previously a member of the Barisan Nasional coalition, but fell out with top leaders and was sacked in 1998. He was then charged with sodomy and corruption, and given a six-year jail term for abuse of power, which sparked huge street protests. In 2000 he was also found guilty of sodomy with his wife's driver and jailed for a further nine years. In late 2004 Malaysia's Supreme Court overturned the sodomy conviction, freeing him from jail. He then emerged as a leader in the opposition movement, leading it to increasingly strong performances in both the 2008 and 2013 elections.