MUHAMMAD MUMTAZ ALI presents how clean image, hope and tireless efforts aimed at the vision pay in the long run as is evident with the historical success of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia.
On May 16, 2018 Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, was released from prison on the order of the new government of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and received pardon by the King of Malaysia. Now he is a free man who can participate in political activities. According to a politically motivated verdict, he was jailed two times first on Aug 8, 2000 and the second time in 2015 and banned from political participation until 2023.
On May 9, 2018, the 14th general elections for Parliament and assemblies were held in Malaysia, a bit fairly. The newly formed coalition of opposition PAKATAN HARAPAN (Alliance of Hope) led by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Dr Wan Azizah, wife of Anwar Ibrahim, won altogether 123 seats of Parliament out of 222, a surprise election victory indeed. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, his wife Dr Wan Azizah and daughter Nurul Izza celebrated their victory with the Malaysian people and declared their commitment that their new government would be committed to the rule of law, to social justice and equality and work with integrity for the best outcomes. As one can observe, due to Anwar’s vision, the Malaysian voters displayed an unexpected tsunami of people’s power which went beyond race politics and indifference for corruption, opting for diversity, tolerance, gender balance and the vision for a new Malaysia for its entire people. In the first public rally for the reception of Anwar Ibrahim held in Petaling Jaya on May 16 Anwar said Malaysia entered into a new era of reform and justice.
Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad was sworn in as the 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia on Thursday, May 10, 2018 by the Malaysian constitutional monarch Sultan Mohammad V at the state palace. The credit goes for this great event to Dr Mahathir and the Anwar camp, led by his wife, Dr Wan Azizah and daughter Nurul Izza who set their egos aside and reconciled in order to safeguard the interest of all Malaysians.
People of Malaysia from all three communities, Malay, Chinese and Indian, voted for a change in government for betterment of people and the country. There was 85 per cent turnout of voters. Half of them are youth but they voted for Dr. Mahathir, 92, and Seri Anwar Ibrahim, 70 years old but clean leaders. This shows that people were not happy with the previous government led by Barisan National which ruled the country since the independence of Malaysia until May 11, 2018.
After taking oath as PM of Malaysia, in a news conference held at 11 pm in Sheraton Hotel in KL, on the same night, Tun Dr. Mahathir, who had ruled the country in the past from 1981 to 2003, declared that soon Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy PM of Malaysia, currently Chairperson of KADILAN [justice and reform party], serving jail will be freed so that he can take part in politics fully. He will be pardoned by the King of Malaysia.
The recently held election was fought under the leadership of Dr. Tun Mahathir Mohamad but Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s political party, KADILAN played a big role in the victory of opposition. Opposition coalition won the parliamentary election under the logo of Anwar Ibrahim’s party KADILAN with simple majority. Anwar Ibrahim, in fact, created history in Malaysian politics. He will be remembered as a revolutionary, courageous and visionary leader. Fighting from prison in the past two elections and also in the current election he manifested his courage and confidence for reform and justice. Finally, he himself enjoys justice and hope will guarantee justice to everyone.
In the recent election, the people of Malaysia, through the use of their votes, proved that a smooth and peaceful transfer of power can be effected through the ballot paper. Those who believe in democracy and practise it realise that the government which does not fulfil the expectations of people and create economic crisis and corruption can be changed, sooner or later. Political parties should learn the lesson that based on discrimination, communalism or hatred they cannot remain in power for a long period. Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the new but well-experienced PM, promised during his press conference that he would be able to improve the economic conditions of the country and eliminate corruption. He will rule the country according to the rule of law and ignore the politics of revenge. However, he made it clear that the irregularities committed by the previous government would be investigated.
The recently conducted election demonstrates the consciousness, vision and concern of the people of Malaysia. In this respect Anwar Ibrahim’s role is historic as he went against the Malaysian political tradition and formed 20 years ago a party KADILAN in which all communities were included. He raised the slogan of reform of political culture and institution of Malaysia, especially administration and judiciary. The Barisan National coalition was based on ethnic origin of Malay, Chinese and Indian Malaysians. But this time under the banner of KADILAN and PAKATAN HARAPAN all Malaysian voters crossed the communal, ethnic, sectarian, regional and other barriers and voted for good governance and wellbeing of people.
Anwar Ibrahim, for the sake of the country and people, forgot all his hardships and allied with Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad. He set all his differences aside and worked with Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Anwar’s offer marked a seismic shift in Malaysia’s political landscape, as the grudge between the two seethed since Mahathir had sacked Anwar as deputy prime minister in 1998 and had him jailed on sodomy charges that many observers said were politically motivated. In a statement issued from jail Anwar said he would “support the position” of those in civil society, political parties and individuals “including Tun Dr Mahathir” in the push to guarantee reform, justice and fair opportunities to all.
Anwar Ibrahim first time, 20 years ago, when he was removed from the post of deputy prime minister of Malaysia, had realised that his country needs a few but drastic changes especially in political culture. Although, he was jailed yet he did not lose hope. He motivated his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, an Irish-trained medical doctor and mother of six, an eye specialist by profession, to join politics and fight for reform movement initiated by him and guarantee good government to the people of Malaysia. He also motivated his daughter Nurul Izza, then only 19 years old, to join mother to fight for reform, justice, equality, rule of law, fair and free opportunities for all people of Malaysia irrespective of racial, ethnic and religious identities. A veteran politician such as Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the current Prime Minister, finally accepted Anwar Ibrahim’s vision of prosperous and happy Malaysia and collaborated with him and formed a new coalition with his party and finally won the general election.
For the last 20 years most of the time Anwar Ibrahim was in jail but his wife Wan Azizah and daughter Nurul Izza continued their struggle under the leadership of Anwar Ibrahim. They suffered a lot during this period but did not give up their mission of reform and justice. Now, people are able to see the fruits of their unlimited sacrifices and endless struggle. Creation of a strong opposition party against a dominant political coalition apparently was not possible but the family of Anwar Ibrahim with the support of people made it a reality and left behind a remarkable history. There is a possibility of a by-election to be held to make way for PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be a member of parliament and then the 8th PM of Malaysia. PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said it was the party’s main priority to ensure that Anwar could lead and return to the political field as soon as possible.
It is a fact that tireless efforts create history. Impossible things can be made possible. Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment to the cause of people was the real motivating factor for his success. He was charged two times in sodomy cases but not for corruption. The clean image of a leader ultimately makes things impossible possible. There are many countries in the world in Europe, Africa and Asia wherein governments charged with corruption were removed. Look at the countries such as Philippines, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand and some African countries where the heads of governments were removed on the charges of corruption and the misuse of power. Anwar Ibrahim would be able to maintain his clean image. I hope in future as the prime minister of Malaysia he will set an example of a model country of democracy, prosperity, equality, justice and development.