Anwar plays politics

Anwar Ibrahim, the former Malaysian deputy prime minister and opposition symbol, recently announced that he would run for the president's post in the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party) party. He thus defies a ban against him from holding political office before April 2008.

In making the announcement, he surprised no one. After being jailed and convicted for what many say are trumped up charges, the former political heavyweight has been on a quest to restore his former glory by becoming the face of the opposition-led pro-reform movement.

Reasons for the lost lustre include the retirement of the former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohammad, in 2003 and Anwar's subsequent release from prison after Malaysia's highest court overturned his conviction for sodomy.

But, his conviction for corruption stays. He also has little chance of returning to a real position of power unless he rejoins the United Malays' National Organisation (Umno), the strongest party in the ruling National Front coalition, which slapped a lifetime ban on him after his release from prison.

Both pro-government and opposition politicos Gulf News spoke to agree that the announcement were designed to grab headlines. Fighting for the party presidency is more of a symbolic return rather than an active return for Anwar as he has not been idle, being the adviser to KeAdilan.

Contesting for the party presidency amid much controversy, would remind the voters of Anwar's 1998 detention and the infamous "black eye" incident, which prompted a huge backlash against the government and gave the opposition a huge surge in popular support - something they have lost considerably since then.

"KeAdilan has lost its attraction to the voters when the ruling party (under Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi) seems to be willing to implement changes (in the government)," admits Tian Chua, information chief of the party.

"(By having Anwar run), we are reiterating our party position that he is not a guilty person and should be allowed to contest," he adds.

Few expect that the government-affiliated Registrar of Societies (RoS) and judiciary will rule in their favour and lift the ban against Anwar.

Opposition leaders are already gearing up for a fight.

"I don't think RoS will allow him to contest. They will make use of what law there is," says Nasharuddin Mat Isa, vice-president of the Islamist Parti Se-Islam Malaysia (PAS), the strongest opposition party in Malaysia. He promises that if it happens, the opposition will make a campaign out of it.

Makes sense

Creating a stir at this time makes sense. Speculation is rife that elections will be called towards the end of the year, coming at the heels the annual budget announcement in September - "when all the goodies will be distributed" to foster fuzzy feelings towards the government, observes Nasharuddin.

Few expect the next general elections to take place after April 2008 when Anwar's ban ends.

Anwar's run for the party presidency has put the government in a pickle. On one hand, if he is allowed to contest, it may send a message to the people that he is innocent and the charges were politically motivated.

On the other hand, if the ban stands, it becomes another example of the government repressing the reform movement and fair contest in Malaysia.

The government is trying to downplay the effect of Anwar's announcement.

"He's nothing in Malaysian politics now. There is no issue. If he was still in prison, he might have a stronger presence," comments Zainuddin Maidin, Malaysian Information Minister and United Malays' National Organisation (Umno) party loyalist.

"We're not going to react. We're not going to do anything because he is a small fry," he adds.

So should the government make an exception to the rule and allow Anwar to hold a political post?

The solution will ultimately depend on which is the lesser of two evils. In this case, Anwar should be allowed to contest if only to prove what the ruling party has long been stressing: that he does not pose a threat to the status quo.

It shuts the opposition up, removes the issue of repression and gives the perception of allowing fair contest.

And in politics, perception is reality.