July 4, 2012
GE-13 is last shot at Power, admits Malaysia’s Opposition Leader
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim may quit politics if he fails to wrest power in the 13th general elections due within a year, the Opposition Leader has admitted to the Financial Times(FT).
In an interview with the international business daily published today, the 64-year-old politician indicated that he is tiring of politics despite the next polls being the best shot he has ever at becoming prime minister, after being sacked as the next-in-line 13 years ago and jailed on twin charges of sodomy and corruption.
“We present our manifesto, our policies and, of course, if I get a mandate, I continue, otherwise I think I’ll go back to teaching,” Anwar (picture) told FT.
The influential paper noted that Anwar seemed tired for a man facing his best shot yet of governing a 28 million multiracial population fed-up with over half a century of Barisan Nasional (BN) rule that appears unable to reform politically, socially and economically.
“Now 65, Mr Anwar admits this is ‘probably’ his last shot at becoming Prime Minister,” the influential paper said.
The lynchpin holding together a disparate opposition pact now known as Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has been running a campaign to take over Putrajaya from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and has captivated public imagination with his talk of a non-racial, merit-based society.
“We are changing the entire political landscape of the country. I think a growing number, particularly the younger Malaysians, want Malaysia to evolve as a mature, vibrant democracy,” he told FT.
But the head of the disparate PKR-DAP-PAS Opposition pact now known as Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is plagued by continuous health and legal issues that could jeopardise the group’s push to Putrajaya.
Despite being acquitted of sodomy charges for the second time in his life earlier this year, the prosecution is still looking to overturn the High Court’s ruling and has some 10 days to do so, which could end up with Anwar back in jail, a crushing blow for the man who dreams of being the next PM and hobbling PR’s chances at the polls.
Anwar’s arch-rival, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has likened the Bersih rally to an attempt to overthrow his government.
Anwar and two other PKR leaders have also been slapped with several charges over the chaotic April 28 BERSIH rally for clean elections, with new ones added yesterday, that could see them jailed up to two years if convicted, stripping him of his lawmaker status and putting him back in the political wilderness he returned from just four years ago.–http://www.themalaysianinsider.com
Anwar is being realistic about his prospects. At 64, he is getting on in years. So he knows that GE13 is his last shot at power.But the odds are staked against him since there is no likelihood that our next elections will be free, clean and fair. If he quits after GE-13, he will be a loss to Malaysian politics. He is no doubt the most intellectual of Malaysian politicians.–Din Merican
“We are changing the entire political landscape of the country. I think a growing number, particularly the younger Malaysians, want Malaysia to evolve as a mature, vibrant democracy,” he told FT.”
This is the power that you have given to the people DSAI. This is huge. Thats all the power they need to demand mature governance from those that claim to want to serve the people.
And so it takes a mature individual to accpet that it may be his last chance at governing. Do you think the current public servants governing think this way?
The UMNOMelayus will not let go of power. These elitists corrupt to the very marrow of their bone, will snipe the head of any rising poppies , be it Anwar or Ambiga or LEG. The country is doomed to be governed by an evil regime for another 54 years, with Mamakkuty as the snake head while the rest slither behind him.
Only the majority of Malays can overthrow this evil regime if they can be persuaded to cross the shackles of ethnic boundary.
Do we actually envy to be in his shoes. Many wont even survive what he has gone through. Well, I would have rotten in jail.
I respect him for his decision although Malaysia will benefit much from him. He looks heavily taxed, wasted, tired and spent. He has fought a good fight. A fighter knows their limit and when to gracefully withdraw with honor and integrity. One must learn when to let go.
This announcement will slap his critics from further branding him a power monger or even vindictive to get even from his demised.
Teacher is a good choice and definitely a good source to disseminate his knowledge to the younger generation. in view of his contributions a School of Anwar Ibrahim is appropriated. History will honor him but not….someone else….
Movements for social change always witness the appearance of
talented people.
The movement has grown way beyond Anwar Ibrahim.
There’s Nurul Izzah, Fuziah Salleh, Liew Chin Tong, Tony Pua, Hannah Yeoh, Datuk Ambiga, and many, many others from PKR, DAP, PAS, NGO groups etc. Many of these will be our future Cabinet Ministers and public policy advisors, I predict.
At the very least, we can thank Anwar Ibrahim for sparking the movement for reform in Malaysia.
Anwar, his supporters in his party Keadilan and the leaders of PAS and DAP and their supporters are hoping that Pakatan can win the coming 13th General Election. But can they win. Only God knows.
Many Malaysians believed that Keadilan, DAP and PAS won several parliamentary and states legislative seats in the last GE because of the “hate the BN government, UMNO/BN, the Judiciary and the Police” campaign that was mooted before the 12th GE. The campaign managed to change the attitude and feelings of some voters towards UMNO/BN then. The campaign by HINDRAF towards the BN government on the Indians was another factor that makes MCA, MIC, PPP and Gerakan lost several parliamentary and state seats.
The attempt by Pakatan to use another “hate campaign” this time using the Election Commission, the Police, the Judiciary, the AG Chambers and the MACC is not working.
The campaign of “taking over Putrajaya by 16th September 2008 mooted by Anwar is a laughing stock to many UMNO/BN supporters and Malaysians in general.
The 1 Malaysia campaign by Najib is working well for BN and BN chance of winning with a 2/3 majority is bright.
So Keadilan and Pakatan are hoping against hopes to win the 13th GE and to take over Parliament and Putrajaya. It all depended in Anwar’s Karma. He has to explain a lot to the people of Sabah and Sarawak and in the Peninsular why his plan to take over Putrajaya by 16th September 2008 did not materialise. Was he not lying and a failure? How can he become a PM then?
” He is … the most intellectual of Malaysian politicians “. – din merican.
Definitely he has more intellectual prowess than Mahathir , Tunku Aziz , Kassim Ahmad, Chandra Muzaffar etc., put together. Unlike Kutty , who is a proven liar and thief, Anwar seems to be like a saint.
This Is It guys.I am sure Malaysia will be on the world map with a new beginning.
Just like Suu Kyi, Myanmar and the Middle East.Everywhere there are changes and we down here are not spared either.God bless and i do hope for a better Malaysia for All Malaysians.
Being someone from his age group I know what it feels to be spent, overused, overlooked and unappreciated. We all suffer some of his indignities in our life but to undergo what he went thru is something else. At least he has the guts to say so unlike Al Kutty who thinks he gonna live forever. That’s what separate the wheat from the chaffs.
” Do you think the current government servants think this way? ” – Kathy
No they don’t. For that matter they don’t even think – they have conveniently abdicated this function to their imams , kathi’s , tok mudins , mufti’s and Mahathir , Ibrahim Ali, and hassan ali.
Some how this status quo affords them a certain bliss .
Anwar is not only a intellectual but, at this juncture, the only person who could carry on the government business without interruption. given his knowledge of umno and its cohorts the only person who could effectively stop them from continuing their plunder and maybe regain the loss.
as they say – it takes a thief to catch a thief!
he might be able to put us on the world map again for good things not for crruption and human rights abuse.
get rid of this old rubbish that stinks to high heaven.
”reeperbahn, How many times have UMNO/BN and the Election Commission or BN or BN candidates been brought to Court for cheating in elections – general electrion or by-electiona? How many people have been found guilty, convicted and sentenced?” Kojak from another thread
Kojak,
we would be pleased if you could post a few examples?
as I have already said, it is a miracle that one party could keep on ruling malaysia for 54 years. since miracles don’t happen in this world then it could be only fraud/cheating. open your eyes and see what is happening around you.
do you really think Ambiga, Pak Samad, Bar Council and Suaram are all crooks or stupid?
corruption is considered a gentlemans delict by the malaysian government. it is not, it is a serious breach of trust. the taxpayers money should be put to proper use.
ask the people who pay taxes, if that is ok?
reeperbahn, I don’t support corruption. I am against giving bribes and against accepting bribes. Like I said earlier in another posting I have given my suggestion to MACC that they not only concentrate on identifying those in the governments in accepting bribes BUT also in indentifying those who practice giving bribes for everything they wanted from the government, the financial institutions, for permits, tenders, lisenxe, business etc; for setteling with enforcement officers for criminal and other offences.
Yes, Dato Seri Anwar is the only intellectual politician around and although he might not make it to be PM he has contributed much in opening up the minds of Malaysians to a government with governance and integrity.
But again we might be speaking in resignation of a lost cause. I am of the opinion Pakatan will have more votes than BN and just a few seats short of a simple majority. That means another 5 years of madness!
I also can feel it NS will be a Pakatan State and Perak will be returned. So, DSAI might not be around the next GE14 but I know UMNO will be dead and gone, together with MIC, MCA and Gerakan come 2020′ That I am certain!
Whatever the outcome, Anwar Ibrahim has more than earned a permanent place of honor in the hearts of all who can still dream, who still believe in freedom and social justice, who still see the enormous potential of this beautiful land we call home. In my eyes DSAI is a national hero. Personally I would very much like to see his destiny fulfilled as PM – even if he grows weary after one term and decides to step aside for younger blood to take over the wheel. Blessings upon you and your family, Anwar. Thank you for the hope and resolve you have stirred in the souls of so many.
‘ The Coward dies many a time, the Brave but only once…..”
Even if the Cause is lost, his Tenacity alone should be enough to inspire
the new generation of Malaysians to face the Brave New world that must unfold in its 54 years of struggles – it is in the Jewish spirituality :
” Time creates the illususion of chaos, whereas infact there is hidden order ” ( timelessness of Creation )
It is difficult to believe Anwar’s words to give up politics if the PR loses in this GE13. Politics are in his blood and he will not cease being involved. After the GE13 there will be some excuses & pleadings from his supporters to make him to change his mind and this will be widely published. Then he will stay in politics as usual.
No other personality currently can ever dream of cementing any lasting union between the DAP & PAS other than this guy – if he goes PR will disintegrate into it component parts and the future existence of PKR will also be thrown into doubt.
Anyway, it is good to have him around to keep the BN people on their toes. Personally I don’t think he will go away – may be this is just a last resort tactic to get some pity. Hope he will stick around though after the GE13.
Even if Anwar calls it a day after the GE,there are others in the party who will carry on his fight for change of the entire political lanscape of Msia…theres his daughter and wife too who will continue his aim of pursuing to Putrajaya even if the coming GE didnt meet up to their hopes,which many think high time BN should be replaced by PR.Even if Anwar quits,i am sure he will still be the shadow behind all decisions since he is the founder of PKR thus PR.
I truly admire and salute DSAI. He has suffered very much oppression from the ruling regime, and I sincerely wish the best for him. Lets pray that our country will move to become a better country.
Kojak, Hussin and Co.,
supporting knowingly a corrupt regime is in itself a crime against the citizens of the country.
if you have read all the comments to this article you’ll realise that we’d all be happy if Anwar remains in politics or if he comes back.
Hussin your hope is that Anwar will go away and DAP/PAS/PKR will disintegrate and umno can rule forever. thats quite an unlikely statement coming from an adult person unless you are one of those occupying a lucrative position in umno or in the government and scared of losing your status quo.
Kojak, the MACC doesn’t seem to do justice. alone the deaths in MACC premises, what happened? any heads rolled? deaths in police lock-up, any results? Kojak, if you are in an influential position throw these people out and get some really qualified people in – they have no merit! and please throw that lawyer Razak out too, he is a disgrace to the malaysians.
reeperbahn,
FYI, I am not in UMNO – never been a politician & never will be and not in any political party either. I am also not in the government and actually I am unemployed for the time being. Thanks.
reeperbahn, If we follow the news on the trials of corruption cases in court for the past 10 years we will realised that offering of bribes and accepting bribes or acts of corruptions were done discreetly or secretly.
But there were some cases where the suspects (the greedy, desperate and corrupted) either daringly or due to stupidity agree to accept the money or monies worth in public places like Coffee House in hotels, restaurants or some other public places.
And there were some cases where the suspects accepted cheques or money credited into their bank accounts or luxury or expensive watches, jewelleries, cars etc. Such cases are easy to prove in courts and get a conviction. It is made easier when the victims are the complainant and the main witness in Court and he/she maintained the same statement/story in Court, the statement and the truth that he/she had given to the police or MACC officers.
The difficulty in bringing a corruption case to Court, I believe, is when there is no official complainant but mere allegation. No witness comes forward to offer a statement or explanation to the police or MACC. There is no eye-witness to the transactions. No hard evidence.
There were cases where statements were recorded from witnesses and as result of the statements given the suspect(s) were charged for corruption or offences under the Corruption Act. But when in Court the witness becomes hostile resulting in acquittal.
Malaysians must be brave enough to make allegations and at the same time to come forward to be a witness to the police/MACC to support their allegations with proof and evidence and a truthful witness in Court during the trials.
Making wild allegations is a nuisance both to the authorities and the people being alleged. It is time consuming. A lot of energy and money wasted.
Corruption trials have taken place in Courts of law against the low-income, the middle-income, the high-income, Menteri Besar and Ministers; in the government and in the private sectors not only in Malaysia and Singapore but in ASEAN and all over the world.
Political leaders, business people and the rakyat can help a lot in fighting corruption. I think we need more emphisis on educating our people on moral and religious values through parenting and family institutions, through community and society meetings, talks and lectures.
Kojak, thanks for your write-up on corruption cases.
corruption is a scourge that slowly destroys a country. Greece, Italy and Spain are good examples of disaster caused by corruption and its many relatives.
in Malaysia there is no full hearted attempt at curbing corruption. only the ikan bilis are taken to court and punished but the big fish either prosecuted and let off with a pat on the wrist or never investigated.
Suaram pursues the corruption case involving RM500mio of the peoples money against ‘you know who’ but what does the government apparatus do? they want to prosecute Suaram instead to stop them.
what about all the other unsolved cases swept under the rug? no action taken?
your write up is in political jargon which means ‘everything is okay’ vote us again so we can screw you until eternity!
Hussin,
I beg your pardon. you sounded like an umno apologist thats why I thought as I did. I hope you find a job soon.
a democratic country needs an opposition as a check and balance. it should be given all the previlages similar to what the ruling party enjoys. umno has many newspapers nearly all, why shouldn’t the opposition have one? what about TV and Radio are public funded so why shouldn’t they have access?
This is a simple ‘lecture’ on devolution of Language..
Language makes it possible to distinguish ‘truth’ – the faithful rendition of reality, from falsehood. Richard Swinburne, philosopher, points out that it is the foundation of reason (obviously), but also of morality – “..it gives man the capacity to contrast the worth of one action to that of another, to choose what he believes worthwhile.., and gives us a conception of the goodness of things.”
The problem with Homo Umnobiensis is that they are a genetic throwback, with a proto-language geared to base beliefs and animalistic behaviors. Their vocabulary is limited to mating grunts and a repertoire of knee-jerk reflexes, with thought processes fixated on maximizing self gratification. It is difficult to label this ‘corruption’, in a relativistic manner, as gutter politics is a natural consequence.
Meanwhile, H. Umnobiensis deny the possibility that Homo Malaysiensis is a totally new concept and qualitatively distinct from them, with all the attributes of modernity, dignity and self respect; speaking a language that is incomprehensible to the former.
Is there hope or more corruption of Language?
Mere language can never make it possible to distinguish truth from falsehood. If this were so there would not be the numerous interpretations of written texts especially religious ones.
I think it was Lord Buddha who said that if anything did not make sense to you, reject it. Therein lies the truth for each one of us.
WHY SHOULD IT BE THAT WAY?
Nelson Mendela stepped out of JAIL alive!
He became the President after 27 yrs in JAIL?
If this nation wants him
WHY NOT?
language is a tool. to properly use a tool you need skill!
if you talk about Homo umnoputras it reminds me of monkeys with a garland, at least most of them; what do you expect them to do with a language?
if you have the skill and the right tool you can distinguish truth from falsehood.
is there another way other than through language?