Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim speaks his
mind By Zari Bukhari and Shawn
W Crispin
KUALA LUMPUR - Former Malaysian
deputy prime minister and finance minister Anwar
Ibrahim is on the political offensive. Nearly two
years after his early release from six years in
prison on trumped-up corruption and sodomy
charges, he now represents the biggest opposition
threat to Malaysia's government led by the United
Malays National Organization (UMNO).
Once
groomed as former prime minister Mahathir
Mohamad's successor, Anwar, now 58, has spread his
wings widely since his 2004 release, serving as an
academic fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of
Advanced International Studies in Washington and
later teaching courses on Arab politics,
inter-religious relations and Islam and modernity
at Georgetown University. On the international
lecture circuit, including high-profile stops in
Europe and the Middle East, he frequently speaks
about the growing
schism between Islam and the
West.
Throughout, Anwar has presented
himself as the cool, rational voice of moderate
Islam, and his name is now frequently mentioned as
a possible successor to outgoing United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan. Although his
candidacy has not been launched formally, Anwar is
believed to have support in Europe and close ties
with several senior US political figures,
including World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz and
former US trade representative and deputy
secretary of state Robert Zoellick. In a
recent e-mail interview with Asia Times Online
contributor Zari Bukhari and Southeast Asia editor
Shawn W Crispin, Anwar aired his views on
Malaysian politics, his personal future and the
escalating conflict in the Middle East.
ATol: How and why in your
opinion would you represent a better political
choice than the incumbent UMNO-led government?
What would you handle differently and what
specific political, economic and social policies
would you enact toward that end?
Anwar: I believe that
the opposition, particularly [Partai] Keadilan
[Sejahtera], would be able to offer a new brand of
politics in Malaysia. There is a greater
realization that the race-based
politics of the
ruling BN [Barisan Nasional] is obsolete, and is
unable to face the present challenges.
First, we are committed to democratic
renewal - abolishing draconian laws such as the
ISA [Internal Security Act], enhancing the role of
parliament, restoring the independence of the
judiciary and freeing up the media. Secondly, we
are committed to a new economic agenda - one that
takes a non-racial approach towards enhancing
economic competitiveness and alleviating poverty
for all Malaysians.
ATol:
How do you reconcile your moderate Muslim
image with your affiliation with the Islamic
fundamentalist PAS [Parti Islam SeMalaysia, or
Islamic Party of Malaysia]? Is this a marriage of
political convenience, or does your affiliation
indicate that you have returned to the more
conservative Islamic views you held during your
early political career?
Anwar:
Yes, PAS is a political party based on
Islamic ideals. Yet what many people fail to
appreciate is that it has been operating
faithfully within the democratic framework for
over 50 years, in spite of undue pressures exerted
to its participation by the BN government.
There are things [on] which I do not agree
with PAS, but in my engagement with them I am
confident that we can work on a minimum set of
programs that are in tandem with Keadilan's
ideals.
When I was arrested under the ISA
for the first time, it was because I protested
against the poverty and economic deprivation of
the rural folk in Baling, Kedah. My commitment to
Islam has always been consistent - as a source of
an ethical framework for Malaysia, and one that
promotes freedom, justice and human dignity.
ATol: What is your
assessment of Abdullah Badawi's government? Has he
lived up to his reform promise and, if not, what
do you see as the more glaring discrepancies in
his government's actions? What are your thoughts
on the Mahathir versus Abdullah row? Do internal
UMNO disputes provide you with a valuable
political opening? Any plans to politically
exploit the widening row?
Anwar:
Undoubtedly Abdullah's big victory in the
2004 elections was partly due to the fact that he
campaigned on eradicating corruption and enhancing
accountability. While there have been some changes
- eg, in the freer democratic space, less
interference in the judiciary - I think overall
Abdullah has failed to fulfill his pledge. There
seems to be a lot of intent, but not so much
political will in initiating change within UMNO. A
lot of people have been disappointed, and Mahathir
is exploiting on this. Personally, I view this
clash as a personal dispute, as it seems ironic
that Mahathir is talking about strong opposition,
free press and accountability when it was he who
destroyed all that during his rule. I believe that
this has allowed the people to see our consistent
commitment to reform more clearly, and hopefully
they will give us the opportunity to implement it.
ATol: Looking back at your
time in detention, what realizations did you come
to while in prison about Malaysia's governance? As
a former senior UMNO member, what do you view as
the party's biggest historical shortcomings and
future political soft spots?
Anwar:
Even when I was back in UMNO, I was
committed towards combating corruption and
promoting freedom. But when in prison, it made me
realize that I underestimated the force of the
vested interests that are committed to derail
reform.
The problem with UMNO is that it
has been in power for so long, and that it relies
on racial politics as its strength. At times, this
requires it to stir racial emotions for the sake
of political expediency, but at the expense of the
country.
ATol: Your name has
recently been bandied about as a possible
candidate to succeed Kofi Annan as United Nations
secretary general. Any truth to those rumors, and
if so, how will you campaign? Did you broach this
idea with your contacts in Washington during your
recent stint at Georgetown University? Obviously
there is a growing global call for a moderate and
modern Muslim leader to take the UN
secretary-general post. Are you that candidate?
Why or why not?
Anwar: I
have [made] some comments to that effect ... The
problem is that the discussion involves
presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers.
The discussion has been going on for the past six
months, more serious now with non-governmental
organizations and the UN apparatuses - across the
world. So I don't think it's polite to be so
dismissive in rejecting the option. Most of them
asked me to give it serious thought, or at least
to consider the option.
To my colleagues
here in the Keadilan and the opposition I have
stated that my commitment is here. They asked, why
don't I state a categoric rejection or denial? I
told them I don't think that would be polite. I am
not saying that it would be easy for me [to get
the UN post] in the event I choose to run, but I
think it is a serious proposition. But in the
discussion with party leaders, I have made it
clear that I am ready to work here.
ATol: What are your thoughts
on the unfolding events in the Middle East,
including the spiraling Israel-Lebanon conflict,
the United States' occupation of Iraq and the
growing pressure emerging on Iran? As UN secretary
general, how would you hypothetically respond to
these challenges?
Anwar: It
is disgraceful that the US has given Israel yet
another blank check in its offensive against
Lebanon even when the whole world is condemning
it. The US has to realize that it needs to be
consistent to its own ideals of promoting freedom
and democracy in the Middle East even if that
requires distancing itself from Israel.
This will only serve to infuriate Muslim
opinion even more. The few Arab countries that the
US can deal with are all unpopular with their own
citizens. In reality, the UN can only do so much
if the US continues to stand by Israel come what
may. Israel must be reined in, and genuine
democracy must be promoted in the region - which
means the US must be prepared to deal with parties
that are not willing to be dictated by its whims
and fancies.
This is really unfortunate,
because historically the US has been seen as the
beacon of freedom and democracy throughout the
world. The neo-conservative policy unfortunately
has only exacerbated anti-Americanism in the
Muslim world.
(Copyright 2006 Asia Times
Online Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact us
about sales, syndication and republishing
.)
politics of the
ruling BN [Barisan Nasional] is obsolete, and is
unable to face the present challenges.
