| Anwar mulls 'rainbow coalition' |
By Lorne Cook
MUNICH, Sept 22-Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim has made no commitment yet to join any political party but is likely to play a role in a multi-party alliance, probably in opposition, he told AFP.
In an interview in Munich, southern Germany on Monday, Anwar portrayed himself as a reformer looking to move the country on from what he calls the corruption and bigotry of its past.
"What I want to do in Malaysia transcends partisan politics. I'm talking about a new Malaysia that is multi-racial, multi-religious, with a specific political agenda," he said.
Anwar said he wanted to improve the country's democracy, encourage a more independent judiciary and make more positive economic changes that would generate faster growth and inject new political confidence.
"This happens to be an opposition programme, but this (reform) is of course a concern now expressed by many in the ruling party, particularly in the lower level," he said.
Anwar's remarks came at a specialist Munich clinic where is recovering from spinal surgery for an injury he says was inflicted during a police beating after his arrest in 1998.
The charismatic and popular politician travelled to Germany after being released earlier this month from prison, where he had served six years on corruption charges. As a convicted criminal he cannot hold public office until
Looking lively despite one of his intensive daily therapy sessions, the former heir-apparent to the country's premiership showed he had lost none of his political savvy during his time in jail, ruling no political option in or out.
"I need time to reflect, to discuss the situation. The political landscape has changed," said Anwar, who has been meeting and talking by telephone to a steady stream of Malaysian and foreign politicians since his operation.
He was respectful towards the two main opposition parties: the DAP and the Islamic party PAS, which wants to change the constitution create a theocratic Islamic state.
"DAP remains a very important party and produces very important leaders, of integrity," he said, while dialogue rather than fear was the way to approach
"Whether you like it or not, PAS represent easily 40 percent of the Malays." Muslim Malays make up some 60 percent of Malaysia's population of 25 million, which includes large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.
"You have to engage them (PAS), don't repeat the blunders of many of the repressive governments, including in the Middle East," he said. "What happens? You are actually encouraging the maturing of militant terror cells."
Anwar said he disagreed with their stance on the constitution and would not be drawn on exactly what it was the party needed to change.
"We have to impress upon them the need for reform and change and the realities of the Malaysian environment," he said. "I believe they need to make some adjustments, some small, some major."
He also appeared to distance himself from a role in the Parti Keadilan Rakyat, headed by his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was at his side in Munich, where he is likely to remain until at least next month.
"They have a good president now. How do I go in there and unseat her," he said with a laugh. Umno link
Anwar urged the parties interested in reform to work together with Umno, which has led the country's ruling coalitions since independence from Britain in 1957.
"This is important. Not be seen in a clash with the ruling party but to offer alternative programmes so that people are free to decide," he said.
Officials in Umno, which holds a major congress on Thursday and has officially ruled out having him as a member, had made contact with him but many appeared afraid of having any public association, he said.
"The top leaders, not a lot have contacted me. But indirectly a lot of them have sent messages."
Anwar has exhausted the legal process in a bid to get his conviction for corruption overturned and his only chance of an immediate return to elected office lies with a pardon from the king. His conviction and nine-year sentence for sodomy were overturned in court on Sept 2. - AFP/zs
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