Anwar Ibrahim: The Will to Serve

Anwar Ibrahim reminds me of Ninoy Aquino, a great Filipino icon who gave up his own dear life to liberate his countrymen from the bondage of repression and dictatorship.

When Senator Benigno Aquino of the Philippines was living in exile in the United States during his bitter political fight with the then President Ferdinand Marcos, he declared to the international community and to the millions of his followers in his own country and all over the world that indeed the Filipino is worth dying for. True enough, Ninoy, as he was fondly called by most Filipinos, gave his own life for the sake of his country and people. In his fight for freedom and democracy, Ninoy is loved and remembered today by all peace loving Filipinos who enjoy freedom and democracy that Ninoy paid dearly with his own life.

Anwar Ibrahim seems to replicate the life and political career of Ninoy. Because of Anwar’s perceived human rights advocacy and his pro democratic stance, he earned the ire of his political mentors who tend to trample on the rights of its citizens in order to advance their own political agenda and perpetuate themselves in power.

For his youth, vigor and idealism and his adherence to the democratic processes and institutions of democracy, he paid dearly for his noble stance. At the height of his political career, he was herded by the Malaysian police into prison on trumped up charges of graft and corruption and sodomy that were apparently concocted to justify his continued detention, thereby isolating him from his constituents and supporters. He was then the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.

It is a common knowledge in Malaysia and in the international community that Anwar is a political detainee rather than a criminal prisoner. Obviously his being kept in prison until lately would somehow make the political heat to subside, with Anwar’s inability to communicate his thoughts and ideology to his own constituents and political supporters which are mostly made up of young and freedom loving citizens of Malaysia.

Anwar Ibrahim’s meteoric rise to political supremacy in Malaysia’s politics may be traced to his youth and idealism. Anwar was born on August 10, 1947 and received his early education in his hometown before gaining admission to the prestigious Malay College in Kuala Kangsar. He continued his studies at the University of Malaya for his college degree. While in college he witnessed and eventually joined the street riots denouncing graft and corruption in government, and the issue of poverty in the marginalized sector of the Malaysian society. In recognition of his leadership, he was appointed into the advisory group of the youth affairs in 1973. His involvement in youth affairs and his concern for the poor farmers of rural Malaysia have endeared him to the youth as well as the elder electorate of the country. This was the beginning of his meteoric political career.

In government, Anwar was invited to join the ruling political party, the UMNO by Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammad. He was elected in 1984 and since then he held various cabinet positions such as Minister of Youth, Agriculture, Education and Finance. He eventually became the Deputy Prime Minister. In 1997, he served as the Acting Prime Minister when Mahatir asked him to lead the country in his absence.

What endeared Anwar Ibrahim to the people of Malaysia was his unrelenting campaigns to minimize if not eradicate the occurrence of graft and corruption in government. He made commitments to the ideals of empowerment, justice and equity for all. His contribution to the Malaysian economy was hailed by international financial institutions, citing his achievements in leading Malaysia into continued prosperity and economic growth.

When Prime Minister Mahatir fired him as Deputy Prime Minister, his subsequent trial and conviction on what was believed to be trumped up charges, was widely disputed by the international community. Many world leaders called for his release from prison, citing a pattern of political manipulation.

After his painful experiences in solitary confinement and for having been treated as a hard core criminal while in prison despite his having served as the second highest ranked official in the land. Anwar continues his journey in politics and governance with a noble intention to serve his people especially the poor and marginalized sector of Malaysian society.

What is in store for Anwar Ibrahim? I believe that Anwar will one day lead the people of Malaysia in their journey to peace and prosperity as their Prime Minister. It is possible that Anwar will get elected into the political mainstream by his own constituents which his wife Dr. Azizah have served as their leader and representative while Anwar was in solitary confinement.