Opinion | Malaysia pins hope on Anwar as the premier
By Augustus K. Yeung
INTRODUCTION
Few ASEAN leaders have suffered so much and have waited so long in the corridor of power before he was called upon to govern the country as Ibrahim Anwar, a man who has finally passed the test of times.
While traveling in the 1980s and 1990s in the Asia Pacific region, two ASEAN leaders caught my eyes: One was Lee Kuan Yew, and the other was Ibrahim Anwar, who was the deputy prime minister in the government of Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar tilted towards globalism, earning his Mahathir's 'disappointment', disagreement, and poor Anwar's fate had taken a turn for the worst, proving that, "Politics is dirty."
Had it not been for Anwar's good wife, who organized supporters and campaigned hard on her husband's behalf while he was in prison, Anwar may not be able to see daylight.
Given Anwar's plight, few ASEAN leaders have captured my attention and got me emotionally involved and interested in politics of the Asia-Pacific region.
Lee Kuan Yew did not disappoint me. Now that Prime Minister Anwar has got his chance, I am cautiously confident that he will live to be a stabilizing force in Malaysia. And be another emerging star leader or statesman in Asia after Prime Minster Lee Kuan Yew.
To Further Understand Anwar and Malaysian Politics, Let's Track the New "Star"
Malaysia's King named long-time reformist opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as the country's Prime Minister, ending days of uncertainty after divisive general elections produced a hung Parliament.
Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said Anwar, 75, was sworn in as the nation's 10th leader at the palace yesterday evening at the palace.
Anwar's Alliance of Hope led Saturday's election with 82 seats, short of the 112 needed for a majority. An unexpected surge of ethnic Malay support propelled Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's right-leaning National Alliance to win 73 seats with its ally Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party emerging as the biggest single party with 49 seats.
The stalemate was resolved after the long-ruling bloc led by the United Malays National Organization agreed to support a unity government under Anwar. Such a tie-up was once unthinkable in Malaysian politics, long dominated by rivalry between the two parties. Other influential groups in Borneo have said they will follow the king's decision.
"His Royal Highness reminds all parties that the winner do not win all and the losers do not lose everything," a palace statement read. The monarch urged Anwar and his new government to be humble, and said all opposing parties should reconcile to ensure a stable government and end Malaysia's political turmoil, which has led to three prime ministers since the 2018 polls.
The palace statement said the king was satisfied Anwar is the candidate who is likely to have majority support but didn't give details of the new government.
Police have tightened security nationwide as social media warned of racial troubles if Anwar's multiethnic bloc wins. Anwar's party has urged supporters to refrain from celebratory gatherings or issuing sensitive statements to avoid the risk of provocation.
Anwar's rise to the top caps his roller-coaster political journey and will ease fears over greater Islamization. But he faces a tall task in bridging racial divides that deepened after Saturday's poll, as well as reviving inflation and a currency that has fallen to its weakest point. Malays form two-thirds of Malaysia's 33 million people, which include large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.
"He will have to make compromises with other actors in the government that means that the reform process will be a more inclusive one," said Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asian political expert. "Anwar is a globalist, which will assure international investors. He has been seen to be a bridge builder across communities, which will test his leadership moving forward but at the same juncture offers a reassuring hand for the challenges that Malaysia will face."
Anwar was a former deputy prime minister whose sacking and imprisonment in the 1990s led to massive street protests and a reform movement that became a major political force. It marked a second victory for his reformist bloc yesterday, after historic 2018 polls that led to the first regime change since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957.
Anwar was in prison at the time for a sodomy charge he said was politically motivated. He was pardoned and was due to take over from Mahathir Mohamad. But the government collapsed after Muhyiddin defected and joined hands with UMNO to form a new government. Muhyiddin's government was beset by internal rivalries and he resigned after 17 months. UMNO leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob was then picked by the king as the prime minister.
Many rural Malays fear they may lose their privileges with greater pluralism under Anwar. Fed up with corruption and infighting in UMNO, many opted for Muhyiddin's bloc in Saturday's vote. (Source: MDT/AP)
CONCLUSION
Given his experience as a former deputy prime minister, a long-time opposition leader, Mr. Anwar should have the required political sagacity to handle the challenges, especially the domestic issues, which require a vision of national unity in addressing the concerns and needs of the rural population.
For example, he can borrow China's concept of 'poverty alleviation', and he can follow the examples set by the Laotians who have actively involved Chinese workers to help the landlocked villagers to conduct agricultural reforms.
He can recruit young people, and share with them his vision of alleviating poverty, building a society emphasizing economic development.
Two other challenges: Party rivalry and the American factor, urgently await his attention. Mr. Anwar must be embracing and enlightening, cooperating closely with people inside and outside his own party, giving them genuine 'hope' as the party's name suggests.
He must maintain political neutrality, as the Americans will continue to tempt or coax, or even twist the arms of the leaders of the ASEAN countries.
Finally, a state visit to China will certainly help to shore up his image as a promising leader.
The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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