Anwar-factor1

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FEATURE : THE ROAD AHEAD

THE ANWAR FACTOR FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DATO SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM INTRODUCED A NEW DYNAMIC TO THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE BY RETURNING TO PARLIAMENT THIS YEAR AS OPPOSITION LEADER. BUT HOW EFFECTIVE WILL HE BE SEATED ACROSS THE ESTABLISHMENT THAT HE ONCE WAS A PART OF? WORDS EDDIN KHOO

IT WASN T SO MUCH A CASE OF HEADY

incrimination and imprisonment of Anwar

comprise the coterie of hit Anwar honchos, that

hubris as an unshakeable faith in that

Ibrahim, the governing coalition, give or take a

roundly backfired .

supposed constant of the Malaysian political

state or two, was nevertheless returned with a

temperament̶ conventional wisdom ̶which

secure two-thirds majority in parliament.

induced an almost delusional stupor among the

The strategy of the governing coalition then

Election result night commenced ordinarily enough as, but for a few surprises, seat after seat fell into the fold of the governing

governing Barisan Nasional coalition, defining

proved largely predictable̶laud past successes,

Barisan Nasional, ensuring a simple majority

its disposition and determining its attitude,

exploit the demographics and concentrate all

victory where it had, especially in recent

prior to the announcement of the General

assault on the figure̶at this time still prohibited

times, frequently been won but rarely

Elections of March 2008.

from contesting the national elections and

acknowledged̶in the East Malaysian states of

serving in an informal capacity as de facto leader

Sabah and Sarawak.

By the previous year s end̶2007̶public life had witnessed the spectacle of tens of

of a political party̶of Anwar Ibrahim.

Events West of Borneo, however, proved

thousands taking to the streets in Kuala

In American electoral parlance, the

Lumpur in at least two separate, sizeable

subsequent campaign would have been

throughout the peninsula, induced a stutter

demonstrations, extensively covered by the

described as essentially negative ̶parry and

among live news presenters of the national

world media but summarily denounced and

stave off the issues at hand, lure detractors

media and bafflement among experts invited

demonised, in the usual vernacular, by the

from the woodwork to denounce perceived

to offer standard analysis of the day s results.

relevant authorities and political figureheads.

inconsistencies in the nemesis, and direct

By the early hours of the next morning, even

personal attacks on character. There was, it

the national media had begun to declare̶in

8th unravelled, the general mood among the

was apparent, a prevailing sense of simply

different measures of enthusiasm and

governing coalition was that conventional

wishing Anwar Ibrahim away̶a yearning that

fretting̶an electoral tsunami , following

wisdom would eventually prevail, and that

appeared to infect even the occupant of the

the loss of five principal states (and most

the voting collective, approaching polling day

highest political position in the land when, just

constituencies in the Federal Territory) to the

in 2008, would recognise they had, really,

days before polls, he remarked, Who is Anwar

Opposition Pakatan Rakyat, marking a seismic

already witnessed this general election before

Ibrahim? I have forgotten him.

shift in the popular vote and, most crucially,

So that even as the events preceding March

- more specifically in 1999 when, following

It proved a strategy, in the words of the

considerably more tentative as ensuing results,

affirming the now indelible presence of Anwar

the cataclysm of demonstrations, public

erstwhile President of Gerakan, Tun Lim Keng

Ibrahim at the centre of a radically transformed

outrage and distaste at the sacking, beating,

Yaik, one of the several figures rounded up to

political landscape in Malaysia. In the cruellest

104 AUGUST MAN DECEMBER 2008

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BUT NOW I AM TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHT OPTION FOR THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE, FOR MALAYSIA SEKARANG AND THE NEW MALAYSIA WHICH HAS TO BE A MULTIRACIAL ENTITY DECEMBER 2008 AUGUST MAN 105

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FEATURE : THE ROAD AHEAD

At his side: Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail

of ironies, victor was cast as vanquished̶a

afforded by the new media̶notably the

paradox captured in statement on one of the

internet̶while summoning that now legendary

Malaysia has been met, frequently, with its own

countless celebratory banners strung across the

indefatigability for which he has always

obstacles and interruptions, not least by the

country which read You forgot Anwar, now the

been known, he worked the ground instead,

constant need to offer reassurances to allay all

nation has forgotten you .

articulating his vision, shaping the experience,

constituencies. To Anwar doubters, his vision

cultivating a strategy, testing the collective

is hardly a vision at all, merely the refractions

swift and not without credence. Prime Minister

temperament through the various contemporary

of opportunism by an opportunist who would

Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was quick to

mediums and, most impressively, the traditional

do anything to win̶as if there were anything

remind that a victory was still just that, a victory;

avenue of the ceramah.

inherently wrong in wanting to win, especially

Riposte from the governing coalition was

that, in contemporary times, a two-thirds

While his period in captivity, and the

His vision of a multi-racial and an equitable

given that in the quest of shaping that vision he

parliamentary was a luxury few governments

experience of smut and violence which preceded

could afford and emphasising that, indeed, the

it, were often dealt with in the form of asides

governing coalition were only a few seats away

and with quite some humour on such occasions,

reach for the Malaysian landscape, but following

from obtaining that coveted mark. There was

manifest in the highly personalized and charged

the events of March 8th this, at the very least, is

some credibility, also, in the observation that the

engagement with the wider Malaysian public

formative. In spite of the fact that some continue

electorate were not, in fact, voting for another

was a deeper vindication. He appeared to

to grapple with fundamental issues affecting

governing principle altogether, but simply

beckon the words of the Shakespeare he read

nation, state and populace that have come to the

expressing disenchantment for unfulfilled

with zeal̶ If it be a sin to covet honour, I am

fore, the trend towards further transformation

pledges and promises. Still, the stuff of data,

the most offending soul ̶while articulating his

of the political landscape is inexorable. As

analysis and scrutiny is only half the political

ideas about the failures of the New Economic

Anwar himself remarked in 2004;

story, with the other dimension being the more

Policy, devising the New Economic Agenda,

elusive realms of intuition, seizing the mood

advocating justice for all̶bringing the case

ABIM and UMNO, I had believed that the easier

of the collective, responding to an evolving

of the marginalised rural communities of the

option is to go through racial based politics. But

psychology.

Malay heartland to the attention of a gritty,

now I am talking about the right option for the

urban Chinese audience in urban Kuala Lumpur,

present and the future, for Malaysia sekarang

shines best, especially since his release

while explaining the call for just and due

and the new Malaysia which has to be a multi-

from imprisonment. His initial release from

process for Kaliamma, the widow of M. Moorthy,

racial entity. This is so much more difficult

captivity was met, initially, with a combined

to an audience of Felda settlers.

because you have to grapple with every issue,

It is here that Anwar Ibrahim perhaps

sense of incredulity and curiosity on the

If the transformation of the Malaysian

had everything to lose. A different governing principle remains a far

In all my experiences in university politics,

argue every case, but that s how life is. Unless,

part of the national media who, for several

political landscape can be attributed to Anwar

of course, you choose an authoritarian system.

months, provided a healthy serving of Anwar-

Ibrahim, it is largely due to the fact that he

Then everyone keeps quiet and carries on with

speak before the falling of the veil and an

has been able to harness an opposition, once

whatever they do .

ensuing loud silence, that was broken, though

driven by ideological disparities, into a workable

not infrequently, often only by a pejorative

political alternative, replete, given the religious

grappling with the now formal presence of

comment culled from here and there.

and racial composition and power proportions,

Anwar Ibrahim; a system that has, in recent

with its own innate checks and balances.

months, even attempted to turn the world back

not only reading̶several times̶The Riverside

His thumping victory in July s by-election in

a decade on its praxis. But within the firm tide

Edition of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (among others) but contemplating the very redefinition of Malaysian politics, there was little time to be spent awaiting the graces of the national media. Seizing the opportunities

Permatang Pauh and his return to parliament

of change that has swept the world these past

as Leader of the Opposition have further

several months, the question confronting Anwar

reconciled his hard-headed idealism with his

Ibrahim is Can He? To which the answer, given

realization that worthwhile and durable politics

a missed date or two, must surely be, He has

can only be played out in the real world.

been able to...so far . Q

For Anwar whose time in prison was spent

The close of 2008 witnesses a system still

PICTURES DANNY LIM, WWW.ANWARIBRAHIM.COM, MEDIACORP PRESS TPDAY NEWSPAPER

A leader with charisma

106 AUGUST MAN DECEMBER 2008

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THE ROAD AHEAD IN CONVERSATION WITH DATO SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM YOU EMERGED FROM PRISON FOUR YEARS

INTIMATELY WITH A NATION IN RAPID SOCIAL

AGO CONSUMED, IN YOUR WORDS, WITH A

AND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION. WHAT, IN

GREATER PASSION FOR FREEDOM . SINCE THEN,

YOUR EXPERIENCE, IS MALAYSIA S PRINCIPAL

HOW HAS THIS BEEN REALISED, IN PRACTICAL

CHALLENGE? Fulfillment of the dispensation

TERMS, FOR YOU? The multi-ethnic People s

vouchsafed the nation by the contents of the

Justice Party, forged during the 98 Reformasi

Proclamation of Independence and the Merdeka

period, remains the best vehicle through

Constitution of 1957. That process of fulfillment

agenda to pursue the ideals of freedom,

which to pursue political and social reform of

has been delayed, denied and mangled by 51

democracy and reform is greater than that

a sclerotic system. Our progress in a few short

years of Barisan Nasional rule. The nation s

which divides them into entities with seemingly

years has been enormous and unprecedented.

principal challenge is how to bring about grand

conflicting ideologies. There are bumps along

Our efforts, combined with the commitment of

rectification to a process that has been ripped

the road̶there have to be as we are sailing in

the other members of the opposition coalition,

off the rails and needs to be put back on track.

uncharted waters and coalitions do not build

has resonated with the latent concerns of

themselves. But we ve made great progress and

the Malaysian electorate that expressed itself

THE SUCCESS OF YOUR EFFORTS AT BECKONING

with seismic effect in the historic general

THE ROLE OF MODERATOR AMONG PRINCIPAL

election of 8th March 2008, in which we more

POLITICAL PARTIES OF THE OPPOSITION WAS

I am confident about the future. AFTER MUCH ANALYSIS, RANGING FROM THE

than quadrupled our

AFFIRMED IN THE

EUPHORIC TO THE CYNICAL, ABOUT THE EVENTS

representation in Parliament

MARCH 8TH ELECTIONS.

OF MARCH 8TH, WHAT DO YOU, PERSONALLY,

and wrested control of four

HOW DIFFICULT A ROLE

BELIEVE TO BE THE MESSAGE SENT OUT BY

state governments from the

HAS THAT BEEN? The

VOTERS IN THE LAST ELECTION? The message

ruling party.

difficulty lay in how

is that they want the forms of political

to make opposition

representation translated into the substance

SINCE YOUR RELEASE,

political parties realize

of democratic living. They want change to a

YOU HAVE TRAVELLED

that that which unites

moribund and sclerotic political culture that has

WIDELY AND ENGAGED

them in a common

brought one of Southeast Asia s most promising

DECEMBER 2008 AUGUST MAN 107

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FEATURE : THE ROAD AHEAD economies to declension and desuetude. And I think most importantly̶there was an awakening in this country̶people realized that votes do matter and by exercising that right they can play a part in charting the future course of the nation. YOU HAVE TRIUMPHED IN A BY ELECTION

Anwar Ibrahim on the opposite side of the bench as opposition leader

AND MADE A CEREMONIOUS RETURN TO PARLIAMENT AS LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. BUT HOW MUCH, REALLY, HAS CHANGED

once emasculating and ossifying. Substantively

IN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE POLITICAL

we are talking about an end to racial politics,

LANDSCAPE? The road on which emerging

greater accountability, respect for the rule of

democracies travel is generally one-way and I

law and a commitment to safeguarding basic

cannot see the nation going back from whence

human rights.

it came. Politically so much has changed. Autocratic action and oligarchic measures are

THE WRITER V.S NAIPAUL ONCE DESCRIBED YOU

challenged at every turn. Corruption which

AS A MAN WHO APPEARED TO BE THINKING

was before deemed acceptable is now fiercely

THINGS THROUGH . WOULD YOU AGREE WITH

debated in Parliament and condemned on blogs,

freedom, they need to express creativity and

THAT? HAS THAT CHANGED? I think Naipaul, in

and among civil society. The undemocratic

they want to compete and be active in shaping

saying that, was giving expression to something

measures taken by the government are

a future that is better than the past. Without the

he would amplify in his 2001 Nobel Lecture

challenged̶and occasionally overturned.

energy and idealism of the youth, no movement

when he cited Marcel Proust s idea of artistic

Certainly the end goal includes structural reform

for political and social change can hope to

creation. Naipaul said that Proust s way of

like freedom of the press and the independence

succeed. All the signs in Malaysia point to the

proceeding was to intuit that indistinct melody

of the judiciary̶and for that one requires

young being the harbingers of that change.

he feels he was born with and bring it to

political power. But the movement for change

fruition. Perhaps what Naipaul would have seen

is inexorable and the gains made thus far give

YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY EFFORTS

in me a few decades ago was my struggle to

reason for much hope.

AT RESOLVING CONFLICTS AND MODERATING

flesh out the blurred memory of truths I early

CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES IN A

in my life felt prompting and leading me. All of

MUCH HAS BEEN SAID OF THE INFLUENCE OF

DEEPLY POLARISED WORLD. ARE THE DIVISIONS

subsequent life was a sequel to that preamble.

THE YOUNG IN INDUCING CHANGE THE WORLD

BLURRING OR HAVE THEY BECOME GREATER?

OVER; DO YOU BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE? WHY?

Immanuel Kant said that progress would come

What is true the world over is no less pertinent

to humanity through intellectual and moral

to Malaysia. The younger generation senses the

enlightenment or through the experience of

FOR IDEALISM IN AN INCREASINGLY TACTILE

need for progress and for the nation to discard

chaos. In a conflicted world, you cannot wait for

WORLD? I believe that if you have an idea, and

the hang-ups of the past. Asian values̶the

the exhaustion that follows on incessant conflict

if it is good and true, it will soon create reality.

idea that Asian people must be subservient

to build a newer world. You have to do it by the

In other words, ideas have consequences and

to authority̶has no more traction on those

relentless search for the better angels of the

good ideas eventuate in salubrious realities.

plugged into a globalised world. They want

human spirit that will douse conflict and allow

Of course, harsh realities are always defeating

for the building of a better world. For that we

ideals but ideals have a way of taking their

must recapture the spirit of engagement without

revenge upon facts that momentarily imprison

which ideas perish and ideology drives mankind

them. In Malaysia, we have long been captive

further and further apart.

to the dispiriting reality of the politics of race.

Change is brought by the idealistic and the questing ̶ Anwar Ibrahim

YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN DESCRIBED AS AN INCURABLE IDEALIST . IS THERE STILL SPACE

The idealistic among us struggled for liberation THE CLARION CALL OF 2008̶FROM THE

from its stultifying confines. Last March, at

ANTIPODES TO ACROSS THE ATLANTIC̶HAS

the general election, the ideal of a race-free

BEEN ONE OF CHANGE . WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE

politics wreaked vengeance on this reality.

CHANGE MEANS, IN SUBSTANTIVE TERMS?

Now, all of post-election realities are sequel to

This change in substantive terms is actually the

that liberation. But if there was no harkening

realization of what one s society is in dire need

after that ideal of liberation, there would no

of at any one time. In Malaysia, it is the need

emancipation from those grinding realities of

for the people s freedom from the bondage

race. Change, then, is brought about by the

of a system that has held them in a thrall at

idealistic and the questing. Q

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