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MALAYSIA: Anwar to Be a Formidable Force in Opposition

Analysis - By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Sep 15 2004 (IPS) - Although Malaysia’s top dissident politician Anwar Ibrahim failed on Wednesday to make an immediate political comeback, after the Federal Court rejected his application to review and overturn his last remaining conviction, analysts predict the former deputy prime minister will still be a reckonable force in the country’s pro-democracy movement.

Malaysia’s highest court, which two weeks ago quashed a sodomy conviction against Anwar and freed him from almost six years in jail, denied a request to re-hear his appeal against his final charge of corruption.

The former deputy premier said both convictions were trumped up by his former boss, then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, to ruin his political career.

As a convicted felon, Anwar, 57, is barred by election laws from contesting or holding political office for five years from date of release or until Apr.14, 2008 but he can be a political adviser, organiser, inspirer and mover – in short the power that pushes the government to democratise and liberalise society from the excesses under Mahathir’s long 22-year rule.

Anwar is ideally suited to head the opposition Alternative Front coalition that is now led by the Parti Islam se Malaysia or PAS, whose hard line Islamic policies had divided opposition ranks and frightened voters during the March election into backing the government of new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

But unlike PAS leaders, the former deputy premier is against an Islamic theocracy in a multi ethnic society like Malaysia.

”The ruling does not really alter the political fundamentals because Anwar is free to speak, organise or lead…he can do all these without holding office or contesting in election,” said Professor Murugesu Pathmanaban head of the Center for Policy Studies – a Kuala Lumpur-based think tank.

”Though his path to top political office is blocked for now, the kind of political role he can carve out for himself is not,” Murugesu told IPS. ”He is an imaginative and talented person.”

The verdict is the second setback Anwar, who is now recuperating in Munich from spinal surgery following his Sep. 2 release.

Earlier this week the supreme council of the ruling United Malays National Organisation or UMNO party in a special session chaired by Abdullah, unanimously refused Anwar re- entry into the party or government – a decision that observers see as ”rather strange” because he himself never applied to rejoin either.

In fact he repeatedly said since his release that he would remain with the opposition and reform society.

”The door for entry into UMNO is closed for now,” Abdullah had announced after chairing the meeting. ”UMNO is not afraid if Anwar joins the opposition because UMNO is strong.”

The party’s youth wing was less charitable saying, ”traitors to our race and country have no place in the noble struggle of UMNO.”

It is obvious that Anwar’s release has rattled UMNO and the ruling 13-party National Front coalition government whose leaders had endorsed Anwar’s 1998 sacking and now fear that his return to high office would set off a witch-hunt and upset their political apple cart.

Anwar has one final avenue to be free from the political restriction – get a full royal pardon from King Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail that would unbind and free him to contest and hold office immediately. But that, however, would not erase the corruption conviction.

Observers say getting a pardon is remote because as a constitutional monarch the King acts on the advice of Prime Minister Abdullah who has manoeuvred to close all avenues of appeal.

Anwar himself is against asking for pardon because he sees it as an admission of guilt.

Political analysts told IPS Anwar has the charisma, experience and a sufficient charged-up following to play a major role in national politics without having to contest elections or hold political office.

”The (Federal Court) decision is a political setback but not a mortal blow,” said Xavier Jayakumar, a vice-president of the National Justice Party that is headed by Anwar’s wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. ”Anwar successfully kept his political fortunes alive while in prison for six years…he is a free man now and can do much more.”

Parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang told IPS the Federal Court’s decision was most ”deplorable, regrettable and unfortunate.”

“This is not an auspicious start or sign for a new culture of political integrity with zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of power,” Lim said.

In numerous interviews since his release Anwar has said his key concern is not high political office but national unity, peace, reform of society and on ways to resolve the unjust association of Islam with terrorism.

The charismatic Anwar, 57, was slated to takeover from Mahathir when differences over how to overcome the 1997 Asian financial crisis forced a parting of ways between the two.

His trial was widely condemned by international leaders and human rights groups across the world who also believed the charges were trumped up.

Lim Guan Eng, secretary general of the leading opposition Democratic Action Party said the restrictions on Anwar were unlikely to hamper his political comeback for long.

”He might not be out there in front but he can lead by the force of his intellect and experience,” Lim told IPS. ”He can be the leader of conscience…his charisma is infectious.”

Even as he recuperates from surgery to treat spinal injuries aggravated during his time in jail, he is not idle and has begun writing a column in the reformation website ‘Malaysia Today’.

In the inaugural piece titled ‘Moderation is the key” Anwar writes about human greed, how leaders push simple solutions to complex problems, the supremacy of the market place and the human dilemma.

”Our approach to life be it in economics, politics or religion, may perhaps be epitomised in a word in the Malay language, namely, ‘sederhana’ which means moderation and taking the middle path,” Anwar wrote.

”Unless the pursuit of profit is matched with a sense of fairness and social concern, privatisation will only serve the interest of the corporate elite at the expense of the larger public particularly those in the lowest rungs of the social ladder,” he added.

”Conglomerates cannot be allowed to grow into banyan trees under which no others can flourish. We need to strike a balance between market forces and benign intervention,” Anwar wrote further.

It is true Anwar has emerged from jail stronger and more focused, said Stevan Gan, editor of Malaysiakini – an independent Kuala Lumpur-based news portal.

”Freedom for Anwar is a victory for all Malaysians and with new experience Anwar can do better now to help build a credible opposition so that the country can benefit from a reliable check- and-balance system,” Gan wrote in an editorial on Wednesday.