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
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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
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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
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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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