Ever since he was released on Sept 2 last year there have been incessant talk of Anwar Ibrahim returning to the fold of Umno by his critics, detractors and opponents. The talk might have begun since Sept 2, 1998, the day he was unceremoniously kicked out of Umno.

His critics do not trust his words that he will not return to Umno and is committed to the struggle of Parti Keadilan Rakyat. His detractors and opponents exploit this sentiment of distrust to confuse the people by repeatedly raising the prospect that he is going back to Umno.

Their aim is not unlike the conspiracy as confirmed by the High Court judge Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus on Aug 18 this year. That is to embark on a spiteful campaign to tarnish his image, discredit him and destroy his political career.

However, this time they can no longer use the sodomy allegation as Hishamuddin's judgment has cleared up his name. Nonetheless, the allegations after allegations hurled at him, overtly or covertly, only goes to show that they are very fearful of his influence spreading over the Malays as well as the non-Malays.

The question of Anwar going back to Umno is pertinent to the opposition and the ruling parties, his comrades, friends, supporters, allies and foes alike. The question itself is also important to him as to what he wants to make himself in the political history of Malaysia. A little analysis will help the Anwar sceptics judge the plausibility of him returning to Umno.

Realistically, it will be very hard, if not impossible, for Anwar to return to Umno. Can Umno become Anwar-friendly out of the blue after it has wronged him? His opponents in Umno and the conspirators who destroyed his political career, would want to see him out of Umno forever.

Anwar has made no secret about his ambition of becoming the sixth prime minister of Malaysia. After all, he could have been the fifth prime minister. So, now he claims what he is entitled to.

Some argue that the only way for Anwar to be the next prime minister is to rejoin Umno. Is it advisable for him to choose the seemingly easier path for becoming the next prime minister?

First of all, if Anwar were so fond of Umno and being the next prime minister, he would regret to having stood up to Dr Mahathir Mohamad and refusing to bail out his sons and cronies. Had he gone along with Mahathir faithfully, he would have been surely enthroned as the prime minister, for time was in his favour, being much younger than Mahathir.

In addition, had he chosen Musa Hitam's footsteps of resigning grudgingly but not fighting back and remaining loyal to Umno, he would also have been safe in Umno waiting for his chances to come again.

If after six years of suffering in prison and all the humiliation to him, his family and friends, Anwar still wants to return to Umno, then it would be foolish, if not nave, for him not to at least demand for the restoration of his former position in Umno. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's footpath of becoming an insignificant figure in Umno and losing respect among the ranks of the opposition is a good precedent for Anwar to ponder upon.

Even if he were invited to join Umno again because Umno badly needs him, Najib Abdul Razak, if not Mahathir, will vehemently oppose it, seeing that Anwar will threaten Najib's chances to become the next prime minister.

Anwar's 18-year experience in Umno provides good reflection for him. Mohd Isa Samad and his like further throws light on the situation as only money determines who can get votes from the delegates to the Umno annual assembly. Is it worthwhile for him to waste his time and energy again in the power struggle within Umno?

Most importantly, Anwar's hard-earned political credentials will be at stake if he were to rejoin Umno. Why should he risk the high regards he enjoys now inside and outside the country? There is also a distinction between becoming the prime minister who inherits the tradition of racial politics and the one who brings the country out of it. By rejoining Umno, Anwar has no choice but to be the former.

On the other hand, by committing to Parti Rakyat Malaysia and its allies, he can aspire to be the first prime minister who brings Malaysia out of the domination of racial politics, akin to Nelson Mandela, the first president to bring South Africa out of the politics of apartheid. It is an honour for him to spearhead this struggle.

While Anwar has taken many steps forward to build a truly multi-ethnic political party and movement, his detractors and opponents are still harping on his past. There is no small measure when he chose a multi-ethnic party, Parti Keadilan Nasional, after being sacked by the Umno supreme council. His conviction to multi-ethnic politics was further reaffirmed when he initiated the merge with Parti Rakyat Malaysia.

After his release last year, he states categorically that the setting up of an Islamic state is not on the agenda of reforms. Whenever he returns to Malaysia in-between short breaks from his duty as a visiting professor overseas, he travels up and down the country and meets up with people from all walks of life. Assuredly, he enjoys big audience and, while giving public talks, the crowd throngs in in thousands and even in tens of thousands.

He has, time and again, publicly voiced his support for the Chinese and Tamil schools, even when addressing the Malay crowd. Recently, he has taken the bold step of condemning abuses of the NEP (New Economic Policy) and disapproving of the continuation of NEP or the like. He puts forward non-racial approaches to deal with problems facing the country. This is a distinct political stance from that of Umno.

Undeniably, he has yet to help settle the DAP's grudges against PAS, despite enjoying the respects from the opposition leaders including Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and the PAS leadership.

If he succeeds it, he will be leading a united opposition force charging at the Umno-dominated coalition in the next general election. Meanwhile, the Pengkalan Pasir by-election will provide an opportunity to gauge his influence in the Malay heart land state.

His detractors and opponents would like to belittle the Anwar issue and its influence. To their dismay, the Hishamudin's judgment has re-furnished Anwar's supporters with the ammunition to fire at the Umno elite and with the moral force to confront the Umno grassroots. It is keenly watched how influential Anwar will be as a key player in the Malaysian political game.

Undoubtedly, the paths leading to the throne of the prime minister are both tortuous inside and outside of Umno. If he chooses the former path, at best he will be remembered as a crafty politician.

On the other hand, if he takes the latter path, he will be remembered as a hero courageously leading the fight against the domination of racial politics, even if in the end he does not make it as the sixth prime minister of Malaysia.

The writer is deputy secretary-general of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.