Anwar's long walk to Putrajaya

 

In 1982, an orator in his mid-30s joined Umno under the leadership of its new president Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He was a former student activist who had been in prison for protesting against rural destitution and starvation. He was also the founder of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim).

Given his anti-establishment and religious vein, he was expected to gravitate towards PAS. But the orator wanted to reach for the proverbial stars. And although PAS had the "moon" as its logo, he knew it would not propel him to the political altitude he desired. Much later, he would enlist the assistance of a "rocket" as well.

During his time in Umno, he was viewed with suspicion. His meteoric rise to become Mahathir's heir-apparent unsettled the non-Muslims who perceived him as an Islamic fundamentalist. It also earned him adversaries who considered him an obstacle to their ambitions back then and even now.

But fate, or rather Mahathir, disrupted his aspiration. In 1998, he was sacked, humiliated, and imprisoned. However, it never broke his spirit or resilience. Nor did he lose sight of the prime minister’s post.

Four decades have passed. The orator, now 75, who has not lost his knack for delivering scorching speeches, is a grandfather.

He has achieved his dream. Anwar Ibrahim is the 10th prime minister.

Unlike in the past, non-Muslims, for whom the alternative comprising PAS was disconcerting, were hoping that the Pakatan Harapan chairperson would emerge as the victor from the political impasse as he is now regarded as a moderate Muslim leader.

Anwar had shed his right-wing skin and embraced a more inclusive approach after his unceremonious departure from the administrative capital. He had formed a multiracial party in 1999 when pundits expected him to leverage on his overwhelming support among the Malays and Muslims.

At one point, even PAS joined his crusade against Mahathir and Umno when a “reformed” Anwar led a "reformasi" movement to “reform” Malaysia and found new allies to help him realise his goal.

These allies brought him close, so close that he had one foot in the door after the 2018 national polls before Mahathir and others slammed it shut again.

This time, in another ironic twist, it was his old allies Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Najib Abdul Razak - who exerted his influence from behind bars - who provided the much-needed concluding thrust.

Wheel of karma

Be it the wheel of karma or poetic justice, Anwar’s ascension to the peak coincided with Mahathir’s sinking to the bottom. The “creator, preserver and annihilator” of prime ministers was decimated in Langkawi while his son was crushed in Jerlun.

The grand master of Malaysian politics could have redeemed himself and retired on a high note but he chose not to. Perhaps it was hubris that became his undoing. Perhaps he believed that his work was not done. Nonetheless, it has left an indelible blotch.

For Anwar, treacherous waters lie ahead. But he is a seasoned captain whose repertoire includes conquering storms. Dubbed the longest prime minister in waiting, he is a politician who can put a feline to shame when it comes to the number of lives at his disposal.

However, hitching a ride with BN to Putrajaya places him in a conundrum, and in a situation where numbers matter and alliances can shift overnight, he could be held at ransom.

In collaborating with BN, he has also inherited their baggage which was used as fodder to convince voters since the 1999 general election that he would act against those who were corrupt and abused their powers if he became prime minister.

Zahid, who risked his neck to provide him with a lifeline, is facing a deluge of corruption charges whereas Najib’s 12-year prison sentence could be extended due to his 1MDB trial. This means the 67-year-old former premier's sole chance of freedom would be a pardon.

How would Anwar and Harapan navigate through this labyrinth - balancing between their promises and not antagonising those keeping them in power?

Would the flames of reformasi be extinguished? Would idealism be sacrificed at the altar of realpolitik?

Impossible feat

During GE14, some cautioned Harapan against working with Mahathir to "save" the nation. Within 22 months of winning the polls, he proved them right although Mahathir blames others for the government's collapse and the others blame Mahathir and Anwar's impatience.

In this election, when Mahathir warned of a pact between Anwar and Zahid, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli issued an emphatic denial, claiming that the grassroots would rather be in the opposition than abandon their principles.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang made a similar stand, stressing: “If PAS does not obtain a simple majority (to form a government), we are willing to be the opposition. We have been the opposition for decades, we don't want an unclean government.”

However, the cleric added a caveat that PAS would welcome “clean” Umno leaders but detractors argued that it was nothing more than rhetoric since locating such a rare specimen would be an impossible feat.

But when none of the coalitions secured the required numbers, both Harapan and PN romanced BN in various hotels showering it with promises and gifts in exchange for its 30 seats which could tip the scales.

Apart from walking a tightrope to consolidate his position and deliver his pledges to usher in a new dawn for Malaysia, the new prime minister must also mend a fractured nation and tend to the economic woes.

For the moment at least, Anwar should be allowed to revel in his success. He has walked a long and difficult path to reach the Prime Minister’s Office and the road ahead of him is also long and winding.

As for the rest of us, let us hope that he does not set another record for the shortest stint in office after Mahathir (22 months), Muhyiddin Yassin (17 months) and Ismail Sabri Yaakob (15 months).

And let us also hope that the words of Thomas Sowell do not ring true - “Politics is the art of making your selfish desires seem like the national interest.”

Congratulations, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. - Mkini

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RK ANAND is a member of the Malaysiakini team.