Stay strong, Anwar Ibrahim

A young woman writes a letter of apology to the opposition leader.

FMT LETTER

By Nur Adilah binti Ramli

Dato’ Seri,

This may have come too late to you, and I apologise for that. If I’m so distraught at seeing you imprisoned, I can’t imagine what it’s like for you and your family. It’s not because you are Anwar Ibrahim that I am racked with emotion; it’s because you’re a human being that my tears are raining down. I see you as a father, not just to your children, but to fellow Malaysians who struggle to have a better Malaysia.

I may be too naive to speak about justice, but I see all this with my heart. In my heart, I’ve never believed that you did the damnable act. Though I believe that you’re innocent of the allegation, I don’t subscribe to the view of some of the fanatics who idolize you and elevate you to the position of a saint. I believe even Anwar Ibrahim, being human, can make mistakes.

It’s your fourth time in prison, and by now, I believe you’re more used to the smell of prison than that of your house. You’ve been unceasingly persecuted since the moment you devoted yourself to justice.

I can position myself in the place of your children, as I share their grief of losing a father to political and human oppression. I’ve never seen you as an angel; this imprisonment, however, brings about more doubts than certainties. I have no evidence to back my belief in your innocence, but I know that nothing is unknown to Allah. My prayer is that you are on the right side.

Sir,

You’ve built a solid foundation of love and togetherness in your family, and I thank God for the support system you have. Your wife is an admirable woman in my eyes. She has always been there for you, and I don’t know who told me this, but she loves you so much. Stay strong, Sir. Your strength ignites the strength in your wife. Because I’m a woman too, I know how fragile women can be. Your wife stays strong up until now because you’re the strength that keeps her going.

Your quest for justice might not be completed in your time, but I’m convinced that your children will take the baton and race to the finishing line. Nurul Izzah is an iron woman indeed. I’ve long admired her oratory skills. She is, after all, a daughter of Anwar Ibrahim. She matured before her time. You’ve groomed her into a lady who has sternness in her elegance. If I were to have a daughter, I would name her after your daughter in the hope that she would be blessed with the charms and wit of Nurul Izzah.

Sir,

If I were you, I would have long fled to another country. Malaysia clearly doesn’t deserve you. Why did you decline so many offers to teach in prestigious universities abroad? Why would you choose to be selfless when the tyrants are waiting for the right time to shoot you down? But then again, Malaysians can’t afford to lose you since we haven’t gained our independence.

Keep your spirits high, Sir! I know that you can because your’re holding on to the hope of freedom. You’ve been bruised, you’ve been beaten to half-death, you’ve been publicly shamed, and your family has always been made to suffer from all forms of defamation. Despite it all, you’ve never let the pain distract you from pursuing the mission of liberation. Even death is not going to stop you from fighting on, as your legacy will shoulder the task and actualize the independence you’ve been striving for.

The real power is not held by the government; it’s to the people that power belongs. The tyrants may use laws to shut people up, but I believe that our civic society won’t sit back and relax. I believe you’ve brought a wave of change to Malaysia, and we’re virtually there in independence. Laws and regulations may sentence people to prison, or even death, but the spirit of the people will never burn out. More important, God is surely with the oppressed. But we need a leader for reform, and you must continue to helm this move. So stay strong, Sir.

Sir,

I believe that I’m not the only one who regrets your condition. Worse, I have done nothing to relieve you from inhuman punishment when you’ve done so much for our country. I hope a powerful foreign government will intercede for you, although interference from external parties should always be the last resort. In your case, nevertheless, involvement by other countries is imperative as our government holds all the power in this country. There’s practically no organization to check on its integrity.

But by God’s will, may justice prevail eventually and we’ll see you freed.

You have a big heart. That much I can assure myself. I have always believed that good persons are always tested with the toughest trials. You’re one of those chosen to undergo this trying time. You’ll be a free man again. Stay strong, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.