Said Zahari, the veteran Malay-language journalist who spent 17 years in detention without trial in Singapore, have always prefer to keep his political views private. However, in an exclusive interview with malaysiakini last week, the icon of independent journalism has opted to speak his mind.

Indeed, he has nothing to lose after having spent almost the best part of his youth in detention. Reunited with his wife, children and a gaggle of grandchildren, Said has his house in Subang Jaya USJ - where he now lives - liberally decorated with verses from the Holy Quran.

At 75, he said he fears no one, except God.

"Whether it is Islam, Christianity or socialism, we are all taught to voice up and fight for the poor, downtrodden, oppressed and persecuted," said Said, one of the few Malays who was politically curious enough to read Mao Zedong's 'Quotations', or the 'Little Red Book', in his younger days.

What then about Anwar Ibrahim, the man who inspired the reformasi movement?

"The Anwar incident is a national tragedy. It splits the Malays and Muslims as well as the nation. It caused suffering to his family, much like my detention in Singapore did to makcik and our children," said Said Zahari with uncharacteristic bluntness.

He added: "(Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad must explain more convincingly why the incident happened. Anwar should be allowed to go overseas for medical treatment, and his case be re-tried. Pak Lah (the incoming prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) must also see to it that justice is done to Anwar."

IMF-friendly

Asked about the allegations that Anwar was "pro-American" or "IMF-friendly" when he was a the deputy prime minister and finance minister, Said argued that he too was once accused to being a "communist" by Lee Kuan Yew in the 1960s and 1970s.

"It has nothing to do with the allegations and convictions for which Anwar is now jailed. As a top government leader then, Anwar had to conduct foreign relations with decorum and prudence, whether he personally liked it or not."

He added: "Like it or not, the United States is a powerful country. All top government leaders, including Mahathir and Pak Lah, have to deal with that, not only Anwar."

Mahathir, according to Said, should be given due credit for developing the country economically and politically into "a model for the Third World".

However, he said the "physical developments" brought about by the 22-year reign of Mahathir has been "offset" by "rampant corruption, "spiritual decline" and "moral decadence" among many Malaysians, especially among Malay youths.

"What is the meaning of having constructed the longest, tallest and biggest buildings if many people are anti-social, and the society is corrupt and decadent with the number of thieves, robbers, rapists, drug addicts and other criminals on the rise?" he lamented.

For those who follow the train of thoughts and movements of Said, the once highly secular and independent-minded Malay progressive has obviously turned more religious after 1998.

Sympathy for Lee

On his former nemesis, Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's recent decision - during his 80 th birthday - to stay on "inside the (governmental) system, Said sarcastically said: "I have great sympathy for him.

"After enjoying power for so long, he seems to find it extremely difficult to trust the capabilities of younger leaders, including his own son who is going to be the next prime minister.

"Power has become the second nature to Kuan Yew. It seems that without power, there will be no useful life for him."

He added: "Kuan Yew is known for his strong belief that he himself is the only man who can solve all the problems in Singapore normal human beings should always know when to take a break or call it a day."

Not Lee, it seems.

This is the final of a two-part series. The first part appeared yesterday .

JAMES WONG WING ON is chief analyst of Strategic Analysis Malaysia (SAM). Wong is a former member of Parliament (1990-1995) and a former columnist for the Sin Chew Jit Poh Chinese daily (now Sin Chew Daily ). He read political science and economics at the Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. While in Sin Chew , he and a team of journalists won the top awards of Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) for 1998 and 1999.