He used to be one of them, but now he says he isn’t. Should we trust the man with the goatee? Kimberley Lau ponders over Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and his claim to power.
“You should move overseas” is something relatives, friends and acquaintances advised when I shed my graduation robe and flung my mortar board.
“The pay is at least two times better, they appreciate you for your expertise and they have bacon at McDonalds!” persuaded a friend who was planning his move to Sydney.
For many young Malaysians, the country was a lost cause. A police road block immediately meant forking out money for an offence – imagined or otherwise, complaints fell on the deaf ears of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) and racial disparity, a given. It was a put up or get out situation – and most chose the latter.
With the March 8 general elections results however, hope for change came for Malaysians like frosty beer after a long, hard day.
The opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) – made up of previously standalone opposition groups, captured five states and denied the ruling coalition its customary two-thirds majority in parliament.
For the first time in 50 years of ruling the country, BN was forced to face a formidable opposition that, instead of rivaling against each other as they have done so for years, had formed a united front in their effort to topple the BN-led government.
Political pundits deduce that the opposition’s success (one which PR reportedly did not expect) was due to public voting against the government and not for the opposition.
But that was then and this is now, and right now, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is the Prime Minister’s seat which opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim intends to take over by Malaysia Day on September 16*.
The former deputy minister’s clock has been ticking away – especially during the six years in incarceration for corruption (sodomy charges were dropped in 2004) and he is now ready to charm his way into Malaysian homes.
He has openly condemned the New Economic Policy (NEP), a social contract introduced to help Malays catch up with other races economically but now blamed for financial disparity among races in the country, and is all for discontinuing it.
Appearing to be quite liberal and valiant, he voiced out against government suspension of newspapers in February 2006 for reproducing Danish caricatures of Prophet Muhammad, calling it “unreasonable and repressive”.
He was critical of the government which took a fancy to throwing bloggers in jail, saying that Malaysians needed “open-minded and forward-thinking leaders, not those still trapped by an outdated political culture and unable to grasp the technological realities of today.”
He has promised that if he becomes prime minister, he would increase economic competitiveness, abolish the Internal Security Act, reform the judiciary, fight corruption and free the media.
The man also says that when he is Prime Minister, he will lower fuel prices via subsidies which the BN government cut drastically for development (mega-projects that Anwar believes will only “benefit the rich and the cronies”). If he fails, he will resign.
How could anyone dare to not believe his boasts? I’d be flabbergasted if anyone didn’t want him to be the next Malaysian prime minister based on all the things he has told us. What’s there not to trust? He promised, right?
In fact, I trust him so much that I’ve forgotten that Anwar was in support of the NEP when it was first introduced in the 1970s.
The incident about him having non-Mandarin educated headmasters transferred to Chinese schools in 1987, or that other one where the government he was part of took down crosses from mission schools – absolute rubbish! Lies!
How could this man, victimised by the government, not be our knight in shining armour? Especially with the recent sodomy charge; or Sodomy II as the Malaysian press has come to call it, he’s one of us now, isn’t he?
Whatever he really is, is between him and his pillow.
There are many, myself included, who don’t quite trust the “new and improved” Anwar. There’s however little left to do but to give him and the hope he’s selling a shot.
After all, it can’t possibly be worse than the government now.
But like all consumers trying a product for the first time, Anwar’s performance when and if he becomes Prime Minister will be scrutinised like bacteria under a microscope; any sign of it being the degenerative kind will not be tolerated.
He will have to deliver on his bluffs regardless of his true position on the matter, or supporters that have backed him these past months could very well lend a kick to his derrière come election time.
The current Malaysian public is one that has its hackles raised and is ready to scratch out the eyes of anyone who decides to cross its newly found claws.
As for me, I will observe the spectacle from a safe distance here in Sydney, enjoy my bacon burgers while I can, and hope that the new government acts like one.
*August 31, 1957 is Malaya’s (peninsular Malaysia) Independence Day while September 16, 1963 is when present day Malaysia was formed with the inclusion of East Malaysian states Sabah and Sarawak. The fact that present-day Malaysia celebrates Independence Day on Aug 31 and not Sept 16 is a sore point among many East Malaysians.
___________________________
Kimberley Lau is Malaysian and trying very hard to get her Masters in
Publishing. She tries to understand politics but keeps getting
distracted by the good food here in Sydney.
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Comments
But if he wins the PM vote, will he be allowed to rule?
The real fear here isn't if he wins or doesn't win. And it isn't if he will enact all his promises or not. It's if the government will incite certain parties to riot and use the excuse to declare martial law with Badawi as dictator.
They've done it before (May 13, 1969), and we KNOW they're not above using the same dirty trick twice *coughSodomy2cough*
I expect the "governement says, no need to stock up on maggie mee and rice" articles to start soon... which of COURSE will trigger a frenzied rush to the nearest Giant.
Living memory for some is history for others.
Is there a particular part of Malaysian society more likely to believe Anwar's new outlook is genuine? Is there a generational divide on this issue? Do people who voted for him the first time round feel betrayed?
Sally Rose
The Next Best Thing
Bacon burgers we have but...
This is scary
I think it is very worrying (and horrifying) that in just a day's span,
> the blogger and site moderator for Malaysia Today Raja Petra has been detained under ISA for, I assume, insulting Islam in an article,
> the Sin Chew Jit Poh journalist in Penang who reported a BN fellow allegedly saying that Chinese Malaysians are squatters,was arrested,
> that three mainstream newspapers (one of which I formerly worked in) has been asked to show cause by the Home Ministry on why action should not be taken against them for, what the ministry deems, reports on sensitive racial issues which would jeopardise inter-ethnic relations.
I am sure a protest is on its way as this not only signifies a crackdown on the media, but also the online community.
Will history* repeat itself?
I hope this is not the beginning of the end.
This saddens me greatly.
Stupid country.
*In a massive police swoop code-named Operasi Lalang (1987), 119 politicians, social activists, unionists, Chinese educationists and religious missionaries were arrested, with 49 of them detained without trial under the ISA for two years or more, while others were released after several months at a detention camp.
The annual publishing permit of three newspapers were revoked.
Anwar's baggage no longer relevant
I think you've hit the nail on the head here. Every passing day and every new development lends further weight to the argument that Anwar's political and personal baggage have become negligible in comparison to the current situation. Whatever Anwar brings if and when he comes to power has become a separate issue to any doubts of his political rhetoric and personal agenda.
Walk the talk, Anwar!
While Anwar certainly has his own personal agenda and motives for taking over the government, at the current pace the government is pissing the rakyat off (wrist-slapping Ahmad with a 3 year suspension, detaining three outspoken individuals under ISA foregoing all basic human rights, continuingly dishing out racist and segmented policies and remarks etc) i will take Anwar's promise.
This is a democratic country yet with each incident, we're forced to revisit this "democratic" polices our country leaders hold.
I was talking to a friend the other day and she said and I quote "I rather we dijajah orang Barat" and she's Malay. Goes to show even the constantly sheltered and pampered race in this country are embarrassed by their leaders' blatant segregation of races.
I cannot wait to see what September 16 has in store for us. On that day, we'll know whether Anwar delivers his promise. If it goes quietly by without any takeover, I think we can half-heartedly (half-heartedly because we still hold some hope because of other limited leaders that have shown such promise) agree that he may be full of bull. Talk the talk then he must walk the walk.
Right now, disappointment is all I have for our country. Maybe the hope will come back later tonight when I eat a bowl of mee kering.
Oh and by the way, I didn't know that East Malaysians were sore about September 16th not being our Independence Day. Hm now I know.
*mee kering is a famous local noodle delicacy mixed with minced pork, fried red onions and char siew.
!!
For the benefit of our non-Malay speaking friends, "dijajah orang Barat" in pinkgeek's comment means "conquered by Westerners". It refers to the British colonial rule.
Kahani... do you have a crystal ball because I think your prophecy might just be coming true with the current ISA fiesta.
Sally Rose.. I don't think there's a generational divide on this issue, if any, it's probably more of a policy divide (those in support of preserving the special rights of the Malays and those advocating equal rights for all races).
Not sure if people who voted for him the first time around feel betrayed, but many, like mkwok, feel that Anwar plays both side of fences a bit too well, hence distrust.
mkwok... oh come on, hosting a cooking show is no sin (though quite funny). PAD's just using it as an excuse to oust Samak.
Susan... I'm sure it's in Australia too. No government is without them, I believe. Just the quality of spin that's all.
dilen... Lets just hope his personal baggage doesn't get him thrown in jail. I've heard it's quite difficult to become Prime Minister if you're a convict.
pinkgeek.. isn't it sad that our last resort isn't much of one?
Hero or not?
Its shaping up to be a very interesting turn of event in Malaysia. I must admit, I dont know enough about the past political history, or the respected parties to fully appreciate the magnitude of the up-coming election. But this is something that has been remedied by your article. I especially like the "Whatever he really is, is between him and his pillow."
I guess I can relate in a way, having lived in Indonesia under the Soharto regime for a while. The sense and feeling of poltical merdeka, to read and write what you please, is so important.