Ex-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has responded by e-mail to questions from malaysiakini as he recuperates from back surgery in Munich, Germany.

Malaysiakini: Many quarters have welcomed your commitment to struggle for reform including creating more democratic space and equal economic opportunities through some sort of a 'rainbow coalition'. Could you please elaborate how you plan to contribute towards achieving these goals.

Anwar: The challenge for Malaysia is to fulfill our promise as a united country. We have to give meaning and substance to reform, (and to form a) mature and a democratic multicultural nation where all our citizens have opportunity to contribute in a secure and open, vibrant society that is prosperous and delivers the benefits of prosperity to all.

As a nation we are a 'rainbow coalition' - my commitment is to work with all opposition parties and all groups and even to work with the government when they are doing the right things.

Perhaps the greatest task for us all is to accept the challenge of the future. To use what freedoms we have to the utmost. If we accept the entrenched system of government direction, elitism, cronyism, nepotism as the way of doing business we make ourselves dependents, accepting crumbs from the table, we make ourselves timid and less than we can and should be.