Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim makes political comeback
Updated
Malaysia's former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, can officially return to politics today, almost a decade after he was dumped from office under a cloud of alleged corruption.
Presenter: Karen Percy
Speaker: Anwar Ibrahim, former Malaysian Deputy premier.
KAREN PERCY: Political watchers in Malaysia are anticipating one of the country's most ambitious political comebacks, as the five year ban against Anwar Ibrahim expires.
He spoke to the ABC today ahead of a celebration planned tonight in Kuala Lumpur.
ANWAR IBRAHIM: While I have never recognised that the decision of the court which I consider (inaudible) judiciary, corrupt and under Mohamad's personal instructions. So I've been active all along but of course it's a relief that fact that I'm able to at least hold a public office.
KAREN PERCY: Because of the ban Dr Anwar wasn't able to run in last month's historic election, but the efforts to keep him out of politics failed. The Opposition parties he led from the sidelines now control five state governments, four of them for the first time. And with no experience in running governments, there's a lot at stake.
ANWAR IBRAHIM: But what is more urgent and pressing is to make sure that we're able to hold parties together and show that the governance in these states that we are in charge be very effective and fulfil the promise that we commit ourselves to the people.
KAREN PERCY: It was no easy task bringing them together. The main players are the Democratic Action Party, with its socialist bent, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party which in the past has held fundamentalist policy positions and Dr Anwar's Keadilan party, which embraces all races and religions.
Together they won unprecedented representation in the national parliament as well and UMNO, the United Malays National Organisation, which dominates that coalition, is now in turmoil. Dr Anwar came through the system he now opposes, rising through the UMNO ranks to become finance minister and deputy prime minister in the 1990s.
At first, then prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad was grooming Dr Anwar as his successor, but they fell out over policies, including how to deal with the Asian economic crisis of 1997 and how to beat cronyism and nepotism in government. By the next year Anwar Ibrahim had been sacked and by 1999 he was in jail.
There's no love lost between Dr Anwar and his latest political rival, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi. As Dr Anwar's political fortunes were waning almost a decade ago, Mr Abdullah's were on the rise. Now Dr Anwar is courting members of Mr Abdullah's government.
ANWAR IBRAHIM: There's a lot of support and I expect that members of Parliament from the ruling party to try and (inaudible) with us. So I think that is the travesty.
KAREN PERCY: So you are already getting people from Barisan Nasional who want to join your opposition forces?
ANWAR IBRAHIM: Yes.
KAREN PERCY: When might that happen?
ANWAR IBRAHIM: Well we are talking to them. I said we are committed to an agenda for democracy and freedom and a new Malaysian economic agenda. You must be able to support us based on that agenda to dismantle obsolete economic policy. If that is done then they can join.
KAREN PERCY: Prime Minister Abdullah is talking about handing over power to his deputy by the end of the year but as yet there's nothing concrete. Even with that knowledge, Dr Anwar isn't in any hurry to change his role. It seems Dr Anwar wants to ensure the success of what he has achieved until now, before he takes on any greater role.
