Asia Times: Opposition's choice of Anwar signals offensive



	September 24, 1999	atimes.com

Southeast Asia

Opposition's choice of Anwar signals offensive
By Anil Netto

PENANG, Malaysia - The Malaysian opposition has thrown down the gauntlet to incumbent Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad by naming former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim as its candidate for prime minister if it wins the coming general election.

The announcement, made on Tuesday, appears to be a tactical move to convince Malaysians that the opposition, known as Barisan Alternatif (Alternative Front), is capable of governing the country and providing a credible leader to challenge Mahathir.

The choice of Anwar reflects a major concession by the opposition Islamic Party, PAS, many members of which had earlier wanted their party to be the leading partner in a coalition government if the opposition wins. It also confirms the reality that no single opposition party would be able to govern without the cooperation of other opposition parties.

Still, the Barisan Alternatif says it realises that even if it wins the coming election, due by mid-2000, Anwar would not be able to assume the prime ministership immediately, given his six-year jail sentence that began in April 1999.

As an interim measure, the Barisan Alternatif said it would endorse as premier anyone from its ranks who commands the support of the majority of members of Parliament, a move that would be in line with the Malaysian constitution. The interim premier would pave the way for a collective leadership committed to justice for all Malaysians, the leaders of the front's four parties said in a statement released on Tuesday.

While upholding the rule of law and protecting the sanctity of the judicial process, the Barisan Alternatif said it would ensure that justice is done to Anwar. ''Toward this end, a judicial inquiry will be held into the political conspiracy which has led to Anwar's imprisonment,'' said the leaders. ''Once justice is delivered, he will be able to lead the nation, God willing.''

Political analyst Maznah Mohamad comments, ''The opposition has moved a step toward consolidating their unity'' by agreeing on Anwar as their choice for premier. ''Anwar had already been the de facto leader or icon of the reformasi movement.'' Also, Anwar represents the middle ground for the four parties and for the electorate, who would not otherwise have been able to agree on a leader to replace Mahathir, premier since 1981. Putting Anwar up as a prime ministerial alternative has made the choice for people much clearer and easier, adds Maznah.

Malaysia's disparate opposition parties had earlier appeared to have reached a stalemate. This, says Maznah, made many fence-sitters wary about choosing an alternative government, preferring to stick with the known - Mahathir. The choice of Anwar would likely reassure these Malaysians and others who had feared that an opposition win could pave the way for an Islamic state, given PAS's standing among the Muslim community.

''Anwar represents the new Malay leader because of his Islamic credentials and his moderate and modernizing stance, which has always been made clear through his writing and speeches,'' says Maznah. ''For the non-Malays it is important to have a leader who would be acceptable to all factions of the Malay community.'' Anwar is also seen to have pro-business, pro-market policies.

The Barisan Alternatif is made up of four main political parties while others, especially from Sabah and Sarawak, are linked directly or indirectly to the front. The four are PAS, keADILan (led by Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail), the multi-ethnic, Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP), and the tiny multi-ethnic Malaysian People's Party (PRM).

Analysts say the opposition's recent offensive, which has seen thousands of Anwar supporters demonstrating against his alleged arsenic poisoning, may well narrow Mahathir's options. Many had expected him to call elections this month, but now it looks like they could be held in November or even next year. If the election is held next year, the prime minister faces a fresh problem: more than 600,000 new voters - many of them young and disillusioned - who registered in April, will be eligible to vote for the first time.

(Inter Press Service)

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©1999 Asia Times Online Co., Ltd.