translation Last Sunday, while the attending the official launching of the Parti Sosialis Malaysia's public service centre for Subang, I had the opportunity to meet several activists from the opposition and members of the reformasi movement. They were happy with the news of 'Umno closes its doors to Anwar'.

The happy atmosphere revealed their worries of the existence of a secret deal, which will supposedly entail the return of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim into the folds of Umno. There is the common understanding that in politics, 'there are no permanent friends, and no permanent enemies'. That is all the more evident when viewed in the context of Anwar's political career.

For example, who would have expected in 1982 that, Anwar, who was then leading the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia [Abim] and so close to PAS, would join Umno?

And who would have expected that Anwar, who had been groomed for 16 years by Dr Mahathir as his successor, would suddenly be sacked from his post as Deputy Prime Minister and thrown into jail?

And similarly, who would have expected that after six years in jail, Anwar still has the chance to be freed and become the focus of attention of both friends and foes, even when his sworn enemy Dr Mahathir has already retired and is receding rapidly into the mists of history?

Due to the widespread rumours that there was a secret deal made, he now appears to be a threat to a number of Umno leaders, whose positions in government and Umno had previously been considered safe.

Best partnership

To avoid utter confusion in Umno, it was reported that Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi had to deny the existence of any secret deal and clarify the stance of both Umno and the Barisan Nasional in a cabinet meeting. He stated that:

  • Umno's doors are closed to Anwar's return;
  • There is no place for the former deputy prime minister in Umno and the government;
  • He (Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi) and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak are the best partnership in a stable team which is working towards long-term goals, including the program, now entering its second phase, to make Wawasan 2020 a reality; and
  • He fully supported the decision of former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to sack Anwar.

On Sept 14, the Umno Supreme Council unanimously decided to close Umno's doors to Anwar, with the Umno President designate, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi saying, 'The door for Anwar's return to Umno is closed for now.'

According to Umno vice-president, Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the chairman of the committee in charge of resolutions to be debated at the general assembly, it is believed that Umno delegates will be proposing a motion at the general assembly, which is due to start on Sept 23, to block any moves to bring Anwar back into the party's folds.

Political power

It appears that at this time, many Umno leaders, particularly those with high and important posts, continue to consider Anwar as an enemy.

This is not difficult to understand as they are surely afraid that their positions and interests will be threatened by Anwar, who is still so charismatic and influential, both inside and outside Malaysia, even though he was incarcerated for six years, and humiliated by Umno and the government.

Now a return to Umno's folds will be most strange (at least 'for now') as the door has been closed by Anwar's political enemies in Umno. Should the door be opened to Anwar in the future, it will still be most difficult to bring Anwar into a poltical position that affords him the chance to rise to the peak of political power.

Witness the example of how Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has been sidelined after his return to Umno. That should be a lesson to all. Rumours of Anwar taking over Najib's place appear to be more like a political fairy-tale dreamt up by those engrossed in self-serving politics.

In Umno, it is not hard to understand why the rumours about Anwar returning to the party started. But if they are made an issue of or give rise to worries in the opposition, even amongst reformasi supporters, that may indicate that where his supporters are concerned, Anwar is facing a credibility gap.

The crisis of confidence has been clearly revealed in an article in the Kirdatun Borhan column in Malaysia Today entitled ' Siapa Anwar sekarang? ' (Who is Anwar now?). The article ended with a very sharp question:

"Mungkinkah Anwar sudah berubah? Atau mungkinkah dia masih seorang politikus yang dahagakan kuasa demi kuasa? Masa akan menentukan. Yang pasti, kita bakal tahu sama ada reformasi suatu pembaharuan yang benar-benar islah tulen atau cuma pembohongan seorang politikus licik yang bergeliga otaknya."

(Has Anwar changed? Or is he still a politician who hungers for more and more power? Time will tell. For sure, we will see if there is a genuine and renewing reformasi, or just the cunning scam of an ingenious politician.)

Anwar's political expertise is generally acknowledged. However, he needs to set himself apart from unprincipled cunning politician.

In this respect, the points he raised after his release about his political path; a responsible opposition, uniting the rakyat for the sake of political stability, economic growth and development for the good of all Malaysians, may need to be defined more concretely and be linked to political statements issued by the reformasi movement and the present struggles of the opposition.

Reformasi movement

The street struggle of the reformasi movement, which was essentially peaceful and calm, has often been twisted and accused as violent activities by the extremist groups, which threatened national security, and many reformasi leaders have been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on charges of involvement of such activities.

Peaceful meetings and demonstrations have been defended all along as a basic democratic and constitutional right of the rakyat, which should not be usurped or denied by any party.

On top of that, opposition parties are often accused of being irresponsible, and political stability and development have been the two most effective weapons in Barisan Nasional's arsenal to this day.

Anwar is surely well acquainted with all this, and is believed to have a foothold in both the reformasi movement and the opposition.

It cannot be denied that being both a principled reformist, who is acceptable to all parties, including Umno, is a compromise, which will be difficult to achieve.

In these critical moments, the three matters below, which have been raised by the Parti Sosialis Malaysia, should be given due attention:

1. In principle, a multi-racial party must be set up, not a Malay-based party like Semangat 46, to challenge Umno;

2. A movement should be started to consolidate the energy of all of the rakyat, and not to build personal support; and

3. The nation must be defended against global forces whose agendas involve colonising other nations, by means of economic control.

It looks like Anwar must issue a statement on his stance, which is more comprehensive, transparent and in line with the reformasi movement founded by him to overcome the credibility gap mentioned above.

I pray that, on his return to Malaysia - after Anwar has held a round-table meeting with the opposition parties, the reformasi movement and NGOs involved, as he had promised - a historical political declaration that states the principles, direction, basis, strategy and long-term and short-term plans to reform the politics of our nation, will be launched.

In so doing, Anwar's role in the reforming of the politics of Malaysia will also be determined by democratic consensus.