KUALA LUMPUR: Reformist Anwar Ibrahim declared a “new dawn for Malaysia” Wednesday after his release from prison transformed him into a potential prime minister following his alliance’s stunning election victory.
In scenes that captivated Malaysians, the charismatic 70-year-old returned to the national spotlight after the country’s king quashed a widely criticised sodomy conviction that had put Anwar behind bars for three years.
To ecstatic cries of “Reformasi!” (Reform) — Anwar’s rallying cry — he took selfies with his former prison guards and vowed before hundreds of journalists and supporters to support efforts to take the country in a new direction.
Anwar said he had forgiven Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who had him imprisoned two decades ago but who took over the opposition alliance and swept to victory last week. The 92-year-old says he will step down in a year or two to make way for Anwar.
“Now there is a new dawn for Malaysia,” said Anwar, flanked by his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and other members of his political party.
“The entire spectrum of Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, have stood by the principles of democracy and freedom. They demand change.”
Anwar has cast a long shadow over Malaysian politics for decades.
He enjoyed a meteoric rise in the now-ousted Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition before a spectacular falling out with his then-boss Mahathir in 1998 that saw Anwar thrown in jail.
Upon his release in 2004, he joined and revitalised the opposition coalition that finally ousted BN last week under Mahathir’s leadership.
Anwar’s release Wednesday from his second jail term sets up a tantalising reunion with his nemesis-turned-ally Mahathir.
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No grudges
Anwar said his history with Mahathir was water under the bridge, as they shared the same goals of reforming the government and cleaning up a massive corruption scandal involving former prime minister Najib Razak.
“Bury the hatchet? It’s been a long time already,” Anwar said when asked about Mahathir.
“I have forgiven him.”
Anwar indicated that he had no immediate plans to get deeply involved in politics, but would support Mahathir’s governing efforts as a “private citizen”.
Anwar’s release caps a remarkable reversal of fortune made possible by the BN’s unexpected electoral drubbing a week ago.
The former autocrat Mahathir, who headed BN for 22 years until 2003, came out of retirement to lead the disparate opposition to a surprise victory.
Many had expected a BN win thanks to its tight hold over the media, government, police and electoral apparatus of the multicultural Muslim-majority nation.
But the result laid bare the depth of disgust with former leader Najib, who is implicated in a massive scandal in which billions of dollars were plundered from the state investment fund 1MDB he established.
Mahathir has barred Najib from leaving the country pending investigations.
Dizzying change
The BN had ruled since independence in 1957. Anwar’s release adds to a dizzying sense of change and is likely to fuel expectations for an entirely new national direction.
Xavier Jayakumar, a member of parliament with Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat, called it “a momentous day for all of Malaysia”.
“The joy is similar to when South Africans celebrated with jubilation after Nelson Mandela was freed,” he said.
Amnesty International, which had denounced Anwar’s imprisonment as politically motivated, called his release a “landmark moment for human rights in the country”.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein warmly welcomed the release and said Malaysia now “has a historic opportunity to ensure the centrality of human rights, rule of law and an independent judiciary”.
Safuan Awang, 35, who works for a medical supply company and is a member of Anwar’s party, rejoiced at the release of “our hero Anwar Ibrahim”.
“We have been waiting for this for such a long time,” he said, expressing confidence that Anwar and Mahathir would work together.
“It will help to improve the economy, and improve the situation between different races. It will make the country more peaceful.”
Anwar’s path to leadership remains unclear, however.
Only a parliament member can become premier, but Anwar was stripped of his seat in 2015 after his conviction on charges of sodomising a young male aide.
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