According to June 9 news reports in Sin Chew Daily and China Press , "more than 20,000" Malaysians of all races attended luncheon hosted by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, to celebrate their daughter's wedding in Ceruk To'kun, Penang.

Ceruk To'kun, a traditional Malay kampung located in the racially-mixed vicinity of Bukit Mertajam on the mainland portion of Penang state, is the family home of Anwar.

According to the reports, among the guests and well-wishers who made their way to Anwar's family home from 11am to 5pm were Gerakan state government executive councillor Dr Toh Kin Woon, DAP members of parliament and state assembly representatives.

There were also Chinese school teachers and other politically non-partisan leaders of the local Chinese cultural and clan associations. Before participating actively in social activism and politics, Anwar, 55, was once a teacher in a Chinese school in Bukit Mertajam.

The Sin Chew Daily report further noted that when Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua arrived in Ceruk To'kun, chants of "reformasi" was heard, although the host had reportedly made it "clear" that it was not meant to be a political gatheting.

Tian, who has just been released from ISA detention, was accompanied by another party vice-president, Azmin Ali, and Penang deputy chairman, Australia-trained lawyer Cheah Kah Peng.

The mass luncheon was hosted in a traditional Malay-Muslim style, completed with the performance of classical Malay musical instruments.

Influential factor

On May 11, a similar wedding party had been hosted in Anwar's house in Kuala Lumpur. According to the organiser, food and drinks were prepared for 10,000 people.

Informed observers noted the presence of many Umno grassroot leaders.

A dinner held the day before the wedding party saw the attendance of top political leaders, members of royalty, senior members of the business community and foreign diplomats.

Among the senior diplomats were US ambassador Marie T Huhtala, British High Commissioner Bruce Cleghon and their counterparts from Singapore, Ireland, Finland and Kuwait.

Opposition leaders like PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, PAS acting president and Terengganu Mentri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP chairman, Lim Kit Siang were also spotted.

Two highly interesting guests were Saleha Ali, who is the sister-in-law of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and former New Straits Times group editor-in-chief A Kadir Jasin ( photo, centre ).

It seems that, despite repeated assertions in the official media and Umno propaganda, Anwar and his family still maintain not insignificant contacts with ordinary people, as well as members of the establishment, both local and foreign.

These contacts may or may not translate into support in the coming general election, but they certainly reaffirm Anwar as, at least, an influential factor in Malaysian politics.

Big Five

Anwar, also a former finance minister, was sacked on Sept 2, 1998, and arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) three weeks later. He was subsequently convicted on charges of corruption and sodomy, which he has denied.

In April 1999, Wan Azizah , their supporters and some social activists formed the multi-ethnic National Justice Party (Keadilan). In November, Keadilan contested in the 1999 general elections and won five parliamentary and five state assembly seats.

Azizah

, an Ireland-trained eye specialist, beat her Umno opponent Ibrahim Saad - a former political secretary to Anwar - and was elected a member of parliament for the first time.

Although the number of seats gained was a disappointment to some observers and supporters, sympathisers point out that the party was not operating on a level-playing field - the press is muzzled and "repressive" laws are often used to restrict freedom of assembly and speech.

Nevertheless, in term of the popular votes, the then seven-month-old Keadilan emerged in the 1999 general elections as one of the Big Five, trailing behind only Umno (established in 1946), PAS (1951), MCA (1949) and DAP (1966).

Although there has been on-and-off speculation that Anwar may rejoin Umno eventually, he has repeatedly dismissed this as a "rumour".

His mentor-turned-nemesis, Mahathir, 77, will retire in October and will be succeeded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, 63.

Penang boys

Interestingly, both Anwar and Abdullah hail from Penang. Both has built their political bases there as well as the northern region, which include the frontline state of Kedah.

Thus, if the mood and sentiment of the crowd in Ceruk To'kun could be translated into electoral support for Anwar's party in the coming general election, it could mean, at least:

One, Keadilan can exercise more political leverages in Penang since a strengthening of the party and its allies - either in term of popular votes gained or state assembly seats won - will adversely affect the standing of Abdullah.

Two, Keadilan and its allies may increase its acceptability, if not popularity, among non-Malay-Muslim voters in Kedah.

Kedah, the home state of Mahathir, is already under heavy pressure to 'resist' the advance by the opposition BA which has already broken the two-third majority of the ruling BN coalition after wresting 13 of the 36 state assembly seats.