Jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim has not ruled out the possibility of closing ranks with his former mentor-turned-nemesis Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad but stressed that he is committed to struggling for justice and democracy.

"Well, time is a great healer and bears no malice," he said.

Anwar said this in response to a foreign journalist who submitted a list of questions, among which was whether he would collaborate with Mahathir.

The questions were given to the former deputy premier during his Federal Court appeal this March against his corruption conviction.

Q: In your perspective, is it thinkable, imaginable that you (Anwar) and Mahathir can overcome this huge political and personal gap that the "Anwar case" has created? In other words, is closing ranks possible again? Would you (Anwar) be ready to forgive, to stage a comeback with Mahathir in power?

Anwar: Well, time is a great healer and bears no malice. Nonetheless, I am committed to struggle for democracy and justice; to combat corruption and cronyism. I will not sacrifice those ideals.

Anwar's written replies were released by his lawyer Sankara Nair during a press conference at his office in Kuala Lumpur today.

Once the heir-apparent to Mahathir, Anwar was sacked from the government and Umno in 1998 after allegations of sexual misconduct were raised against him.

A year later he was found guilty of sodomy and corruption charges by the Kuala Lumpur High Court and is presently serving a 15-year sentence at the Sungai Buloh prison in Selangor.

However, Anwar has maintained that he is a victim of a high level conspiracy to oust him from power, a charge which the government denies.

The decision on his Federal court appeal for corruption is still pending while no date has been given for his appeal against his sodomy charges.

Misses family

Another questioned posed by the journalist was how he deals with his incarceration, to which Anwar replied that he misses his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and his five children.

"It is the price one has to pay in the struggle for democracy, freedom and justice," he said.

Asked if he thought of himself as a political prisoner, he maintained that his court trials were clearly political.

"The entire trial and incarceration is clearly political, a conspiracy involving the country's leadership, abusing the institutions of the police, public prosecutor and the judiciary," he said.

He added that he was also honoured by the association to former political detainee and South African President Nelson Mandela, when replying to a question if he saw an analogy with the latter.

"But I dread to imagine having to languish in prison for 15 years as designed by Mahathir," he said.

The questionnaire also raised the issue of his influence in Umno, the party which propelled Anwar to power and in which Anwar served as the deputy president for several years.

"I have faith and confidence in the people, Umno members notwithstanding," he said.

Craving for freedom

Asked on his personal political ambitions, Anwar said he hoped to join his colleagues in Keadilan soon.

"I am craving for my freedom and to be able to join my colleagues in our struggle for democracy and justice," he said.

Keadilan was formed in 1999 and is headed by Anwar's wife and former aides.

Taking a swipe at the local media, he said the press was completely muzzled by the government "but we are still able to disseminate information by alternative means but at a great price."

Commenting on the recent Sept 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, he expressed his abhorrence over the incident.

"But I caution against the exploitation of that tragedy to strengthen the hand of autocratic regimes in enhancing repression and regrettably this is happening," he said.

Following the Sept attacks, Malaysia has stepped up its arrests of suspected militants allegedly involved in the Malaysian Mujahidin Group (KMM) with more than 60 arrests  philosophy, politics, economics, etc. But I devour the classics, the great works and Shakespeare.

Do you consider yourself a political prisoner, and if yes do you see an analogy with Nelson Mandela?

The entire trial and incarceration is clearly political, a conspiracy involving the country's leadership abusing the institutions of the police, public prosecutor and the judiciary. Mandela is a great man and I feel honoured to be associated with him as a student. But I dread to imagine having to languish in prison for 15 years as designed by Mahathir.

In your perspective, is it thinkable, imaginable, that Anwar and Mahathir can overcome this huge political and personal gap that the Anwar case has created? (In other words: is closing ranks possible again, would Anwar be ready to forgive, to stage a come back with Mahathir in power)

Well, time is a great healer and bears no malice. Nonetheless, I am committed to the struggle for democracy and justice; to combat corruption and cronyism. I will not sacrifice my ideals.

How has Sept 11 influenced your fate? In other words: has it strengthened Mahathir's grip on power and weakened Anwar's standing, in the sense that it has channlled attention away from the Anwar case and changed the perception of Islam in and the Muslim world in the west?

In late Sept 2001, I articulated in an essay in Time magazine my abhorrence to the attack and the violence in New York and Washington. But I cautioned against the exploitation of the tragedy to strengthen the hand of autocratic regimes in enhancing repression. Regrettably, this is happening. We pray that reason will prevail and the struggle for democracy will continue unabated.

How strong do you see your political base in the population and within Umno?

I have faith and confidence in the people, Umno members notwithstanding. The media is muzzled with total control by the government but we are able to disseminate information by alternative means but at a great price!

What are your own personal political ambitions?

I am craving for my freedom and to be able to join my colleagues in our struggle for democracy and freedom. Ameen...