The
release of Anwar Ibrahim from prison and the reversal of
his conviction on sodomy charges have been heralded as a
landmark in Malaysian politics. Some now look to the
former deputy prime minister to lead the Malaysian
reform movement. Anwar's release has been rightfully
applauded, but its impact on Malaysian politics should
not be overstated; Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is the
chief beneficiary of this surprising turn of events. The
move is good for US relations with Malaysia, however:
freeing Anwar eliminates a major irritant and will allow
the two countries to forge closer ties in the future.
At the time of his imprisonment six years ago,
Anwar was heir apparent to then-prime minister Mahathir
Mohamad. Differences between the two men over the
correct response to the 1997 Asian financial crisis
resulted in Anwar's dismissal. But rather than going
quietly, Anwar took his fight to the streets, rallying
the public around the call for reformasi
(reform). He was subsequently arrested, tried and
convicted of sodomy and abuse of power amid the biggest
demonstrations in decades.
Prison did not remove
Anwar from the public view. A very visible black eye
given to him in jail by then-inspector general of police
A Rahim Noor, arsenic poisoning, back injuries, and the
establishment of an opposition party, Parti Keadilan
Nasional (National Justice Party, or Keadilan), by his
wife, Wan Azizah, ensured that Anwar would remain a
focus of international attention. His imprisonment has
been a continuing issue for US relations with Malaysia;
relations between the two countries were most strained
in 1998 when then-vice president Al Gore gave a speech
endorsing reformasi in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of
the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
summit.
This month, in a surprise move, the
Malaysian Supreme Court reversed Anwar's conviction on
charges of sodomy, ruling that the testimony of the main
witness against him was unreliable. Having served his
sentence on the corruption charge, Anwar was then
released from prison.
Some now look to the newly
freed Anwar to spearhead the reform movement in
Malaysia. That is unlikely. As a practical matter, Anwar
is banned from politics for five years as a result of
his conviction on corruption charges, which Malaysian
courts have pointedly refused to overturn. Equally
important is the fact that his appeal has diminished
since he was imprisoned. He lost the status of heir
apparent, and his supporters among the faithful now back
Abdullah. Anwar has been tainted by charges that he too
profited from corruption during Mahathir's rule. Some
close allies have even described him as an
"opportunist". With Mahathir gone from the scene, he has
lost his chief nemesis.
If anything, Anwar's
release has strengthened the hand of Abdullah Badawi.
The reversal of what has been roundly condemned as a
miscarriage of justice makes the prime minister look
stronger. He has been praised for promoting judicial
independence, even though he has denied having any
influence on the decision.
Abdullah is moving
from strength to strength. During the first
post-Mahathir general elections held in March, the
ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition won a
landslide victory. Keadilan was decimated, losing all
its parliamentary seats except that of party president
Wan Azizah. The result was seen as an overwhelming vote
of approval for the new prime minister, who had taken
officer after Mahathir stepped down last October.
The election results in large part reflected
Abdullah's attempts to distinguish himself from his
predecessor. In particular, he has taken aim at the
crony capitalism that seemed to flourish in the Mahathir
era. He arrested Tan Sri Eric Chia, a close friend of
the former prime minister. He has "indefinitely
postponed" several large projects that were thought to
benefit other close associates of Mahathir. He has taken
the police to task for the spate of snatch thefts,
showing sensitivity to the concerns of ordinary
citizens. He has chided the civil service for its
inefficiency. And recent measures concerning the tax
system, outlined on September 10, will introduce more
efficiency and transparency in Malaysia. All reflect a
willingness to demand accountability. In so doing,
Abdullah has managed to co-opt the reform movement, in
effect depriving Anwar of his base.
A strong and
popular Abdullah Badawi administration is in the US
interest. The prime minister espouses a moderate form of
Islam that can serve as a counter to the extremism that,
while still a minority position, is heard with worrying
frequency in Southeast Asia. Popularity at home allows
Abdullah to take pro-US positions without having to
watch his back. During his July visit to the White
House, Abdullah described Malaysia's relationship with
the United States as "very, very, very strong" and said
that "more can be done". He went on to say, "Malaysia is
ready to send a medical team, a sizable medical team to
Iraq."
Malaysia can play a vital role in US
relations with the Muslim world. Hailed as an economic
success without having to depend on oil, Malaysia is
often held up as an example of what a modern, democratic
Islamic country can achieve. As the current chair of the
Organization of Islamic Conference and of the
Non-Aligned Movement, Malaysia also can play a critical
role in rallying international support for the "war on
terror".
Of course, the two countries will not
see eye-to-eye on all issues. But the Abdullah Badawi
administration can work with the United States on key
issues that affect both countries. The release of Anwar
eliminates a thorn in the bilateral relationship. Both
governments should now make the most of this
opportunity.
Lena Kay is a Vasey
Fellow at the Pacific Forum CSIS. This article is used
by permission ofPacific Forum CSIS.
