The two faces of Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia during the Mahathir administration was a student activist before he was invited to join the government in 1982. Today, he is still one of the most vocal and outspoken politician who had enjoyed the privilege and confidence of the Barisan Nasional government and currently the opposition leader in parliament.

In September 1998, Anwar was ousted in disgrace by the then prime minister Dr Mahathir for being immorally involved in scandalous sexual acts in the infamous sodomy I. It was a historical legal battle that had emerged from the late 90s until he was found guilty after more than two years of sensational trial. In mid year 2000, Anwar was found guilty and subsequently jailed.

Anwar did not overstay his term in sungai buloh and was released by former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2005 0r 2006. One could only speculate that the then prime minister had misjudged his political strength as a result of the overwhelming Barisan National victory in the 2004 general election to release Anwar. Anwar became a free man to once again pursue his political ambition to topple the Barisan Nasional government.

In the 2008 March general election, Anwar through his PKR and PR coalition managed to capture five states, including Penang and Selangor, the two important states under the BN government. Anwar's political sentiments were high and he was elected as the MP for Permatang Pauh which voted him as the Opposition leader in parliament. In September 2009, Anwar became over ambition and in his attempts to topple the BN government and move on to Putrajaya, he had enticed a number of Barisan Nasional MPs to join his opposition camp, but was unsuccessful. On the contrary, the PR controlled state of Perak was recaptured by BN in a most controversial move with a number of ensuing legal battle between BN and the dethroned PR government. The matter was finally resolved in favour of Barisan Nasional as the legal state government of Perak. The rest is history though the condemnation against the BN leadership and the Sultan of Perak is still ongoing even when the State Assembly was legally convened according to convention.

Currently, Anwar is still being embroiled with his second sensational defence case in sodomy II. Apart from the sexual case involving his own aide Saiful, there are also some other cases of defamation, etc in which Anwar is directly or indirectly involved. Anwar is now facing a series of trials and one wonders if he could live in peace and settle his own personal problems. He has no time for his constitutional duties as the MP for Permatang Pauh and yet he is being retained as the opposition leader. In most democratic parliamentary practice, Anwar could have been impeached or suspended from parliament pending the outcome of his ongoing trials. In accordance with parliamentary ethics, the government should review the parliamentary laws relating to member's privilege and immunity. How can Anwar justify his position as a Member of Parliament when he is being implicated by serious allegations of unnatural sexual assaults in the previous sodomy I and currently in sodomy II.

I wish that all Malaysians would like to believe that all that had happened in sodomy I & II in which Anwar had been accused was all fabricated or conspiracy acts to end Anwar's political career. I think it is a long and up hill legal battle for Anwar to clear his name and also to restore his political creditability, although nobody is guilty until proven otherwise. Good luck to you Anwar and let Allah be the first and last witness in your actions. You can fool us one time but not all the time. Hope to see you again in the coming PRU13.