Anwar Ibrahim has consistently maintained that he was a victim of high-level conspiracy, injustice, double standards and manipulation.

For him to say, among his first remarks to the press, that he bears no malice towards Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a step forward for national healing.

Like Nelson Mandela, Anwar has put the past behind him and taken a courageous step with an extraordinary vision of 'forgiveness' for those who orchestrated his persecution.

However, an unrepentant Mahathir said he still believes Anwar is guilty. But Anwar, a man of vision with prescience and pragmatism, refused to be drawn into following the grandstanding, malevolent and diverting blame style of Mahathir. He even thanked Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for non-interference with the judiciary.

Through his self-sacrificing courage and his exemplary loyalty to champion the cause of justice and humanity, Anwar has reaffirmed his commitment to the reformist vision he has long espoused for democracy, economic viability and peace in Malaysia.

Anwar reminded us that injustices in society, such as police brutality, must not be allowed to continue. The near death beating he received from the former police chief on the night of his arrest, while handcuffed and blindfolded, is unimaginable.

In the past, Anwar has made a significant contributions, not just to Malaysian politics, but also to the broader Asian region and the world.

It is good to see that the manifestly flawed sodomy conviction meted out to him six years ago is finally overturned, and I hope that other outstanding legal matters can now be finally resolved to allow Anwar to play a leading role for the progress of mankind, both nationally and globally.