Anwar: Najib had me jailed, don’t take Mandela comparison seriously

INTERVIEW | Following his recent jailing on corruption charges, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and his supporters have been crying foul over it.

Some in his camp went so far as to compare him to South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim himself had spent more than 10 years behind bars on charges widely viewed to be politically motivated, and he felt that outlandish claims made by Najib and his family should not be entertained.

“If you follow my style, I just ignore these petty things. I heard some saying that he (Najib) is really suffering and Anwar got better treatment while in jail.

“Look, even under him, I’m not even talking about under (former prime minister) Mahathir (Mohamad), when I was placed on the floor for weeks before the doctors came and said, ‘look give him a proper bed for clinical reasons, for his back problem’.

“That's one and of course, food was prison food!” Anwar told Malaysiakini during an exclusive interview.

The Port Dickson MP had three spells in detention totalling around 10 years, starting with 20 months under the now abolished Internal Security Act (ISA) in the 1970s, five years from 1999-2004 and three years from 2015-18.

Hence, Anwar bristled at the suggestion that he enjoyed delays in his trial.

“Then there is the issue of court process and trial. They said Anwar got a longer extension than Najib. But I was in jail, damn it!

“There was no bail or stay of execution (as Najib enjoyed). Then-High Court judge Augustine Paul didn't count the period bail and if you talk about due process of justice, there is another difference.

“In Najib’s trial, you read the judgment. It was strong and compelling, and the case was not even complex.

“It’s right there, the money was put into your account and you disposed of the funds. and you were aware of it. There is no defence, as far as I’m concerned,” said Anwar.

The former deputy prime minister went on to detail a conversation he had with the late Mandela about their time in jail. The latter served 27 years in prison from 1962 to 1989 for his opposition to South Africa’s racist apartheid system.

“You see, there was a very distinct conversation I had with Mandela, unlike what they are talking about Najib. I was invited by him after I was released. The whole family, Dr Wan Azizah (Wan Ismail) and the children were there too.

“Mandela was such a remarkable man. I wanted to talk about him but he wanted to talk about me! He said that it was different.

“He told me, ‘I was the fighting the apartheid, you were deputy prime minister and treated this way by our friend and I can't do anything’.

“Then he started looking at the children. Nurul Izzah was probably 18 then, but the rest were very young and then he became very emotional.

“He was tearing. He said, ‘Anwar, people cannot ask a man to go through this’.

“Then I joked and said, ‘never mind, this is my short walk to freedom’ (a reference to Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk to Freedom).

“I said this not knowing that I would be in prison again after that. Mandela looked at the children, indicating that not only he but his children suffered.

“So then, I didn't continue with the serious discussion as I saw he was very disturbed,” Anwar recalled.

Multiracial politics is non-negotiable

The PKR president said that until today, many had told him that as long he talks about a multiracial agenda and works with DAP, he will never be prime minister.

“This to me is a very core position. I have no regrets and I think whether I make it or I don't, it's a major contribution to the nation.

“The country must mature as a democracy. We accept the constitutional provisions but are always prepared to embrace the principle of inclusivity. As long as there is hope, we will continue,” said Anwar.

He also acknowledged that it would come to a point where he gives up the struggle to lead the nation.

“Of course, I will know when the time is up. What I have done now is to make sure that the next generation will be emboldened in such a way to help (carry out) this crafted policy and strategy.

“At the time, I will be just a wise sage in elections. They've been talking about me retiring since 1999!” he said with a laugh.

Despite his many ups and downs, Anwar said that he was determined not to take things personally and become bitter.

“I always remind myself, particularly when I was in prison since 1998, that I am fighting this system.

“The problems are systemic too, not just Mahathir alone, but how he used the judiciary and government apparatuses to be complicit in the crime. It's not easy.

“The AG (attorney-general), CJ (chief justice), IGP (inspector-general of police), media, you name it,” he noted.

Anwar added that it was important for a leader to have patience and wisdom.

As such, he tends to make distinctions between differences in policy and personal battles.

“That's why when I meet them (political adversaries), I am still polite and have tea with them.

“But some of my friends and colleagues cannot understand that or tolerate the pictures I have taken with Najib or Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“I can see the social media reaction is quite hostile, but I do differentiate. It’s not that I condone the excesses that they did. But in the last episode of signing SDs (statutory declarations) to the Agong - that is the political reality you have to deal with.

“The people need to be told about these excesses so that when they choose leaders, they know that integrity is very important,” he said.

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Reports by Martin Vengadesan, Alyaa Alhadjri, Raveena Nagotra, and Ng Xiang Yi.

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