Anwar meets ex-Indonesian president Habibie in Jakarta

Anwar says visit is at invitation of Habibie, in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Indonesia’s reformation era.

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Anwar said the meeting with Habibie would improve relations between the two countries and would strengthen Malaysia’s reformation agenda. (Facebook pic)

JAKARTA: Pakatan Harapan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim today held a meeting with former Indonesian president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Indonesia’s reformation.

Bacharuddin, affectionately known as BJ Habibie, was the third Indonesian president, from May 21, 1998 to Oct 20, 1999. He succeeded Suharto.

The meeting, which took place at BJ Habibie’s residence on Jalan Patra Kuningan here, started at 1pm local time.

Anwar, in a statement, said the visit was at the invitation of Habibie in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Indonesia’s reformation era.

“The year 1998 is a sacred year for Malaysia and Indonesia. May 21, 1998 is commemorated by the Indonesian people as the time when the old regime was toppled and the start of transition of power, as well as the reinforcement of democratic institutions which began during the administration of president BJ Habibie.

“Sept 2, 1998 is meanwhile remembered by Malaysians as the beginning of the fall of the Barisan Nasional regime, which finally concluded two decades later on May 9, 2018,” he said. (Anwar was sacked from Umno on Sept 2, 1998, sparking the Reformasi movement.)

Anwar said the meeting with Habibie would improve relations between the two countries, and would strengthen Malaysia’s reformation agenda.

On May 16, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V granted Anwar a full pardon.

Anwar had been serving a five-year jail sentence from February 2015 following his conviction for sodomy. He was originally scheduled for release on June 8. -FMT