Anwar Ibrahim: A Political Colossus
January 16, 2012
Anwar Ibrahim: A Political Colossus Among Malaysians
by Ismail Dahlan, Malaysia Chronicle(01-15-12)
Anwar Ibrahim stands now, like a latter-day Rhodian Colossus, with one foot in the Peninsular and one in East Malaysia. He has stood against all comers, faced up to every challenge, and remains standing, spectacularly unbowed. He will not be defeated, not by violence nor by the many attempts by the BN’s apparatchilks to strip him of his dignity. They have yet to learn that true strength and dignity comes from within and cannot be so stripped.
In India after his acquittal, Mr.Anwar offered to forgive his tormentors, though many Malaysians do not want him to, and want instead to see the guilty suitably punished. Few will be impressed by Ambiga Sreenivasan’s call to forgive wrongdoers after Pakatan comes to power. They will want to see justice served. It serves, however, to illustrate Mr.Anwar’s almost Gandhian inner peace and strength that he contemplates forgiving the unthinkable wrongs that have been committed against him and his family.
Anwar the only credible Malay leader
Anwar has indeed become a colossus, morally and politically, and there is none in the ranks of the Barisan Nasional who can hope to match him. Compared to him, they are little men, scrabbling and fighting in the dirt for contracts and positions or rolling in the sewers concocting poisonous little conspiracies.
Certainly Najib Razak, whose term in office is an illustration of mediocrity in action, is reduced to a dull shadow when compared with Anwar. Najib has wisely refrained from taking Anwar on in debate, despite being repeatedly challenged. He would have little chance against Anwar’s knowledge or debating ability. Najib prefers to lurk in the shadows and throw verbal stones at Anwar which usually consist of nasty little sexual jibes (based on a poorly fabricated BN conspiracy) which make most Malaysians cringe.
Najib has also failed in his promise to enact reforms as his reforms usually appear to consist of taking one step forward and two steps back. Certainly this was the case with his ill-named ‘Peaceful Assembly Act’, which in truth is a draconian piece of legislation which drastically curbs the freedom of assembly and expression granted Malaysians under the constitution.
Najib will regret his lack of attention to the economy
Najib has similarly mishandled the economy which is already starting to slow down in complete
contrast to his promise that it will grow at 5% pace throughout 2012. Inflation is rampant in Malaysia and few believe Bank Negara’s official 3% inflation figures. The reality on the ground is entirely different. The global slowdown will also affect Malaysia drastically, even though Najib tries to pretend that Malaysia operates in a vacuum.
Japan, Malaysia’s largest export market is losing its European customers and it will have an immediate impact. Singapore is Malaysia’s largest export market in South-East Asia and it has already contracted in the 4th Quarter and headed steadily into recession. Clearly, Najib is deliberately attempting to mislead less-informed Malaysians that the economy will grow at 5% in 2012 for the purpose of winning the next General Election.
Anwar, however, is the one man who will be able to pull the economy out of its doldrums and ensure steady, strong growth in the years to come. The relief that Malaysians will feel to be freed of the repressive yoke of the BN will translate into consumer and business confidence that will drive domestic growth.
Anwar will also enjoy the trust and goodwill of the external world which will be more inclined to invest in a nation that genuinely embraces democratic norms and freedoms. The fact that the malevolent influence of Mahathir Mohamad which still influences Malaysia’s civil and economic life today will be banished for good with a Pakatan win will further encourage foreign investment.
Any reader of Mahathir’s lunatic article in the Financial Times on January 11 is unlikely to want to invest in Malaysia as they will be well aware that many ministers in the current BN cabinet are Mahathir’s ‘men’, who will carry out his wishes regardless of consequences.
GE-13 is now for Pakatan to lose
There is little doubt that Pakatan will win the next election based on the current sentiment on the ground. This is not just in the Peninsular but also in Sabah and Sarawak. There also many within BN who have already read the writing on the wall and are ready to move their loyalties to Pakatan even before the elections.
Informed estimates of Pakatan’s probable share of parliament seats now range from 120 to 140 seats; which will be quite enough to oust the BN from power. And we will finally have a competent Prime Minister in Anwar Ibrahim, backed by an honest cabinet, which will actually have the interests of Malaysians at heart.
Malaysia Chronicle
“In India after his acquittal, Mr.Anwar offered to forgive his tormentors, though many Malaysians do not want him to, and want instead to see the guilty suitably punished. Few will be impressed by Ambiga Sreenivasan’s call to forgive wrongdoers after Pakatan comes to power.”
This is just the type of statements that fuels speculation and breathes life into conspiracy theories that some kind of behind the scene negotiation could have taken place in readiness for the inevitable victory at the polls by the opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim. Some kind of pardon may be worked out for these criminals that would give them immunity from prosecution – and maybe a share of the loot?
Ambiga being the fierce advocate of the rule of law that she makes herself out to be and being President of the Bar Council should not be speaking out about forgiveness, but accountability and taking responsibility for the consequences of one’s actions.
Mr Bean - January 16, 2012 at 9:56 am
Don’t count the chickens before they are hatched.
UMNO leaders are shrewd, sly, cunning politicians for 50 + years.
They do not want to hand over power.
UMNO leaders & cronies have amassed HUGE wealth including Mahathir’s families
There are many tricks to their disposal.
EC can re-delineate constituencies & gerry mander.
UMNO can buy votes.
UMNO control the major media.
But it will be good to have a 2 party system.
If the elected PKR govt does NOT perform, Malaysians should also show them the exit.
Malaysians must have an alternative.
robert - January 16, 2012 at 9:58 am
Having said that I don’t think UMNO-BN will lose at the polls. They will not relinquish political power that easy. They may emerge with their noses bloodied but will hold on by a razor thin majority.
Mr Bean - January 16, 2012 at 10:02 am
Bean suk,
Remember what happened in Hong Kong when Maclehose, the governor came down hard on corruptions back in the 70s. Ok lah, I was too young then. Just read ths link lah
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Commission_Against_Corruption_(Hong_Kong)
The entire Hong Kong Police went berserk with chairs thrown onto the buildings. No good man!
Razor thin majority!? I doubt it’s either Pakatan win big or BN win big. No way to be in between. Thanks to first past the post system
looes74 - January 16, 2012 at 10:33 am
Din
There may be a need for a Truth Commission, similar to what South Africa did, to avoid further “blood” letting.
Ambiga and othere who propose this are more pragmatic than those who are too severe in their thinking. You cannot go revenge when you win. That is a “Lose – Lose ” situation for all concerned.
But PR must win the GE 13 first and I doubt it will be called this year, as I have been saying all along.
si rusa - January 16, 2012 at 1:24 pm
It’s quite useless comparing Anwar with Jibs. These 2 were in cahoots in their younger days and sort of matured in UMNO under the tutelage of Octo.
The difference was the former was born to a poor family, yet gifted intellectually, ambitious, scourged by his own mentor and thus sobered through trials and tribulations; while the latter was born of nobility, with all wants and cares provided on a silver platter and whom practiced the arcane Machiavellian Arts of Self-Preservation and Advancement.
The moral and ethical conundrum that is Malaysia today, is due the lack of strong principles and empathy on the part a whole generation of leaders fed on a steady diet of “Otherness”: Racism and Parochialism. State sponsored Evil unfortunately is a manifestation of a characteristic of Authoritarianism, Obedience, Conformity and plain old Pragmatism. The real reason why Leaders cannot countenance to a higher “Good”, is that they lack ideas, the ability to see outside the box of cheap, immoral politics and their inbred falsity called “Manifest Destiny.”
While Anwar, does not represent the ideal “Colossus”, he has empathy and pragmatism – perhaps too much of it. I for one, am not so interested in a ‘witch-hunt’ should Pakatan take over, as i feel that this country has for been too long in stupor. The “Burning at the stake” and “Pillorying” type of politicking will detract from what needs to be done and undone immediately, to move us forward. The Rule of Law be reinstated, and all the Institutions of Governance need to be swept clean. Only then can we talk of vengeance and apportioning responsibility on things gone wrong.
C.L. Familiaris - January 16, 2012 at 1:27 pm
great comment, CLF.
yes, if the institutions of governance are swept clean then we can mete out the punishment to the errand people. what can you expect with a corrupt judiciary and police, as of now?
we shoud also refrain from scaring away the civil service from voting Pakatan. maybe thats why Ms. Ambiga wanted.
reeperbahn - January 16, 2012 at 3:39 pm
“You cannot go revenge when you win” — si rusa
Here is somebody who cannot understand the rule of law. You don’t talk about taking revenge like you have a choice; the law has to be left alone to take its own course. You don’t choose and select who to prosecute. But then smarty pants like this one cannot be expected to understand that what he is suggesting are the very same ways of a regime that he is lending his voice to have ousted from power.
scarlet.pimpernel - January 16, 2012 at 7:22 pm
one fine but exaggerated example is Germany after the WWII. the British were of the opinion that you can’t cut off the head of the country and expect it to survive. so most of the civil service and especilly the diplomatic services were left intact. even now you’ll find previous running dogs of the Nazi’s in the diplomatic and civil service, especially the judiciary. as the british rightly pointed out, it is possible to rehabilitate them.
we should’nt be talking about revenge but how PR is NOT going to do the same mistakes that were done by umno/bn.
reeperbahn - January 16, 2012 at 8:31 pm
That’s right. Let the chips fall where they may.
scarlet.pimpernel - January 16, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Reinstate the rule of law.
scarlet.pimpernel - January 16, 2012 at 8:52 pm