The Malaysian Insight

TWENTY years after Anwar Ibrahim was sacked from the first Mahathir government, two things remain the same: Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the prime minister and Anwar Ibrahim is not in  government. Yet.

What is different is that both made up two years ago and worked together again to oust the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government in the May 9 general election – with Dr Mahathir as prime minister and Anwar his anointed successor, again.

Reformasi activists, the ones who supported Anwar in this past two decades, are resigned to this reality but now believe Dr Mahathir will hand over power to Anwar sooner than later, erasing the bitter memories of the past 20 years.

“We cannot look back, we have to look forward. If we look back, we can’t fix this country,” Reformasi activist Badaruddin Ismail told The Malaysian Insight. 

Popularly known as Pak Din, the 73 year-old was among 10 held without trial in 2001 under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for organising street protests that rocked the capital city in the early days of the Reformasi movement.

Others held with Pak Din were Chua Tian Chang (better known as Tian Chua), Saari Sungib, Hishamuddin Rais, Lokman Noor Adam, Ezam Mohd Noor, N. Gobalakrishnan, Dr Badrul Amin Baharum, Raja Petra Kamarudin and Abdul Ghani Haroon. Most are now with the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) government except Lokman, who rejoined Umno and Raja Petra who threw his support for disgraced prime minister Najib Razak.

“From 20 years ago, things have changed gradually. What we fought for is being implemented and the situation is now improving.

“Not only on political and financial aspects but also on important matters such as human rights,” said Pak Din, who was an activist with Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).

However, Badruddin admitted that there are various speculations surrounding the cooperation of the two politicians who had a mentor-protege relationship until the political break-up 20 years ago.

“I am not too worried about the-so called rift and speculations. Mahathir won’t be ruling like how he ruled the country before. Eventually Anwar will lead the country.” 

“Both have come to terms and have agreed to fix the country. Both have the same agenda, that’s what really matters,” Pak Din added. 

After his sacking on September 2, 1998, Anwar toured the country before he was arrested on September 20. He was beaten in prison, tried for corruption and sodomy and jailed until 2004, when the sodomy verdict was overturned.

The turbulence eventually gave birth to Keadilan, the movement that became the political party now known as PKR. Anwar’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has led the party as president from the beginning until recently when Anwar took over the post.

Pak Din then told The Malaysian Insight that he had no regrets over the ordeal he endured adding that he is now satisfied with what the people have achieved.

“I am very satisfied now. 20 years ago we went through a lot and we are now here in a new government. I can die with my eyes closed,” he said.

“Yes, Mahathir is the PM but it is not like how it was 20 years ago. The cabinet members are also trying to improvise the situation together,” he added.

Former detainees such as student activists Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin and Shariffuddin Budin also said Anwar’s sacking had now receded into memory.

“Both have done their level best and they did it. It is not about them it’s about the people. The people will determine the country’s future,” said Khairul

Shariffudin, a PKR member, was detained under the ISA in 1998 after mobilising Anwar’s nationwide tour to speak against his sacking.  

“The issue of September 2 should never be repeated. But I believe we should all put it behind us. Both men have and our dream of reformasi is now underway. Barisan Nasional is not in power anymore and we are moving towards the changes we wanted,” Shariffudin said

The activist also believes that Dr Mahathir has truly changed his ways for the better and is leading PH to a better Malaysia. – September 2, 2018

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