The last time Malaysiakini sat down for a chat with Anwar Ibrahim, he was the man of the hour.
Fresh from a string of victories in the 2008 general election, he was then about to leave for Permatang Pauh to make his political comeback.
Source: Malaysia Kini
Fresh from a string of victories in the 2008 general election, he was then about to leave for Permatang Pauh to make his political comeback.
- A year and a half later, however, his Pakatan Rakyat coalition is on the defensive. There is a new and more robust prime minister in charge. Pakatan lost Perak after BN engineered a number of defections.
- Anwar himself is facing another controversial sodomy trial. But being an incorrigible optimist, he remains upbeat.
- In this first of a four-part interview, he tells Malaysiakini about his battle to clear his reputation in a second sodomy charge leveled against him, which he concedes is a liability in the battle for Malay votes.
- But unlike the Sodomy I trial 10 years ago, Anwar is confident of staying out of prison despite all the “dirty machinations” by BN.
- He also said that, although Najib is a stronger opponent than his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Pak Lah), he does not hold a candle to his other adversary, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
- “Mahathir’s strength is that he fights things head on. Najib is never known to have the capacity to face up to things,” he explained.
- Anwar said that Najib’s tactics of using Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia and institutions such as the judiciary to smear him is a sign of “cowardice” and “sheer hypocrisy”.
- “I know their personal lives, I was their friend…. Who is talking about morality here? In Islam – be it sodomy, adultery, drinking or corruption – who can pass the test? Name one person. Can Najib pass the test?” he asked.
- Excerpts of the interview follow. The content has been edited for language and brevity.
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