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THE LAST BEFORE HE IS JAILED? Malaysia's Anwar plans giant rally in wake of Obama visit
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THE LAST BEFORE HE IS JAILED? Malaysia's Anwar plans giant rally in wake of Obama visit
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and other political and civic figures are planning a mass rally in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday in what could be Malaysia's last big political protest before his sodomy trial is concluded.
Mr. Anwar met with the U.S. National Security Council Advisor Susan Rice along with other opposition leaders on Monday after President Barack Obama's visit to the country over the weekend and expressed his concern over the direction in which he says Malaysia is heading.
Among Mr. Anwar's complaints is the way he says Prime Minister Najib Razak is systematically sidelining Malaysia's opposition movement. Last year, the opposition alliance, which Mr. Anwar leads, won 52% of the popular vote in national elections but failed to form a government thanks to the ruling National Front coalition's strong support in vote-rich rural areas.
The opposition was further weakened on March 7, when Malaysia's appeals court overturned Mr. Anwar's acquittal on charges that he had violated Malaysia's strict sodomy laws by having sex with a male aide, a charge that Mr. Anwar describes as a slur designed to chip away at his political support base. Mr. Najib denies that the government is involved in the case against Mr. Anwar, who could face several years in prison if his conviction is upheld.
Mr. Anwar, a charismatic orator and a well-known face in Asia, with his snappy glasses and wispy goatee beard, said he fully expects to be convicted.
"People appealed to me to stay in the U.K. when I visited there recently. They have no confidence that I'm going to get a fair hearing," Mr. Anwar said. "But I remain optimistic that we'll give a good fight in the court, in the parliament, and outside. Mr. Najib can't take it for granted that we'll take it easily."
In some ways, Thursday's rally is a throwback to 1998, when Mr. Anwar led protesters through the streets of Kuala Lumpur, many of them of them chanting "Reformasi!", the Malay word for reform.
That year, former leader Mahathir Mohamad fired Mr. Anwar as his deputy for challenging his rule, and Mr. Anwar was arrested on sodomy charges. He denied breaking any laws, but spent six years in prison until his conviction was overturned in 2004. It was a pivotal moment in Malaysia's modern history. Images of Mr. Anwar sporting a black eye after being beaten by the country's former police chief while in detention helped spur an opposition revival, which culminated in last year's tumultuous elections.
Thursday's rally initially was called to protest a wave of price increases expected to come with the imposition of a new goods and services tax next year. Many Malaysians are unhappy with the removal of subsidies on sugar and fuel, which have added to the cost of living, and higher taxes could further eat into household budgets. Mr. Najib has said the moves are necessary to strengthen the country's economy in the long term and reduce the government's dependence on revenue from the state oil and gas firm, Petroliam Nasional, or Petronas.
A source close to the government said that Mr. Najib also attempted to launch a national reconciliation process after the 2013 elections. Mr. Anwar refused to participate, claiming that fraud tainted the outcome of the ballot, an allegation that Mr. Najib denied. The prime minister in recent speeches and interviews also has made a point of explaining how he has opened up Malaysia's political system, repealing laws that allowed for imprisonment without trial and opening up more space for political debate.
Thursday's planned protest, which hasn't been approved by Malaysian authorities, has become more explicitly political in recent days. Mr. Anwar has claimed that Mr. Najib had pressured President Obama not to meet with the opposition leader, an allegation Malaysia's government denies. Other groups said they are planning to join the rally, too, including Bersih, which previously has organized large demonstrations to press for electoral reforms and cleaner elections. The police have broken up protests in the past.
"Mr. Najib's position is to portray himself as a reformer and say that nothing is his fault," Mr. Anwar said. "I don't buy it. He has been prime minister for five years. The reluctance to move forward is the responsibility of the prime minister."
-WSJ
THE LAST BEFORE HE IS JAILED? Malaysia's Anwar plans giant rally in wake of Obama visit
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THE LAST BEFORE HE IS JAILED? Malaysia's Anwar plans giant rally in wake of Obama visit
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and other political and civic figures are planning a mass rally in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday in what could be Malaysia's last big political protest before his sodomy trial is concluded.
Mr. Anwar met with the U.S. National Security Council Advisor Susan Rice along with other opposition leaders on Monday after President Barack Obama's visit to the country over the weekend and expressed his concern over the direction in which he says Malaysia is heading.
Among Mr. Anwar's complaints is the way he says Prime Minister Najib Razak is systematically sidelining Malaysia's opposition movement. Last year, the opposition alliance, which Mr. Anwar leads, won 52% of the popular vote in national elections but failed to form a government thanks to the ruling National Front coalition's strong support in vote-rich rural areas.
The opposition was further weakened on March 7, when Malaysia's appeals court overturned Mr. Anwar's acquittal on charges that he had violated Malaysia's strict sodomy laws by having sex with a male aide, a charge that Mr. Anwar describes as a slur designed to chip away at his political support base. Mr. Najib denies that the government is involved in the case against Mr. Anwar, who could face several years in prison if his conviction is upheld.
Mr. Anwar, a charismatic orator and a well-known face in Asia, with his snappy glasses and wispy goatee beard, said he fully expects to be convicted.
"People appealed to me to stay in the U.K. when I visited there recently. They have no confidence that I'm going to get a fair hearing," Mr. Anwar said. "But I remain optimistic that we'll give a good fight in the court, in the parliament, and outside. Mr. Najib can't take it for granted that we'll take it easily."
In some ways, Thursday's rally is a throwback to 1998, when Mr. Anwar led protesters through the streets of Kuala Lumpur, many of them of them chanting "Reformasi!", the Malay word for reform.
That year, former leader Mahathir Mohamad fired Mr. Anwar as his deputy for challenging his rule, and Mr. Anwar was arrested on sodomy charges. He denied breaking any laws, but spent six years in prison until his conviction was overturned in 2004. It was a pivotal moment in Malaysia's modern history. Images of Mr. Anwar sporting a black eye after being beaten by the country's former police chief while in detention helped spur an opposition revival, which culminated in last year's tumultuous elections.
Thursday's rally initially was called to protest a wave of price increases expected to come with the imposition of a new goods and services tax next year. Many Malaysians are unhappy with the removal of subsidies on sugar and fuel, which have added to the cost of living, and higher taxes could further eat into household budgets. Mr. Najib has said the moves are necessary to strengthen the country's economy in the long term and reduce the government's dependence on revenue from the state oil and gas firm, Petroliam Nasional, or Petronas.
A source close to the government said that Mr. Najib also attempted to launch a national reconciliation process after the 2013 elections. Mr. Anwar refused to participate, claiming that fraud tainted the outcome of the ballot, an allegation that Mr. Najib denied. The prime minister in recent speeches and interviews also has made a point of explaining how he has opened up Malaysia's political system, repealing laws that allowed for imprisonment without trial and opening up more space for political debate.
Thursday's planned protest, which hasn't been approved by Malaysian authorities, has become more explicitly political in recent days. Mr. Anwar has claimed that Mr. Najib had pressured President Obama not to meet with the opposition leader, an allegation Malaysia's government denies. Other groups said they are planning to join the rally, too, including Bersih, which previously has organized large demonstrations to press for electoral reforms and cleaner elections. The police have broken up protests in the past.
"Mr. Najib's position is to portray himself as a reformer and say that nothing is his fault," Mr. Anwar said. "I don't buy it. He has been prime minister for five years. The reluctance to move forward is the responsibility of the prime minister."
-WSJ
