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Malaysia’s ex-deputy PM Anwar plans to return as legislator

Friday, 14 September 2018 10:10 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 14 September 2018 10:29 AM ]

Malaysia's former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim delivers a speech during a CEO conference organized by a local management association in Manila on September 4, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Malaysia's prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that it was time for him to return as a lawmaker, but reiterated his full support for the government led by his former foe-turned-ally Mahathir Mohamad.

Anwar and Mahathir put aside their 20-year-old political feud to help their alliance win a historic national vote in May that led to the first change of power since independence from Britain in 1957.

Anwar, who was convicted in 2015 for sodomy, could not take part in the elections but their four-party alliance had agreed that Mahathir would be prime minister and hand over the reins to Anwar. Anwar, 70, was freed and pardoned by the king shortly after the polls.

"The understanding ... is that immediately after the pardon, I should enter the race," Anwar told The Associated Press on Friday. "I waited four months and I think it is also important for me to start connecting" with lawmakers and focus on parliamentary reforms.

Mahathir "will continue leading the nation, I will give full support," he added.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (R) and politician Anwar Ibrahim, leave after a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on June 1, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

A lawmaker from Anwar's party earlier this week announced he had resigned as a member of Parliament in the southern coastal town of Port Dickson to make way for his comeback. The Election Commission will set a date for a by-election that must be held within two months.

Anwar said he would work hard to appeal to the electorate and explain how new government policies would benefit Malaysians.

Mahathir, who is the world's oldest leader at 93, told AP in an interview last month that he expected to be in office for at least two years and would keep his promise to hand over power to Anwar.

Anwar was once a high-flyer in the former ruling coalition but was convicted of homosexual sodomy and corruption after a power struggle in 1998 with Mahathir, who was prime minister for 22 years until 2003.

He was freed in 2004 and convicted again in 2015 of sodomy which he said was concocted to destroy his political career.

Anwar worked from his prison cell to forge a new opposition alliance by making peace with Mahathir, a gamble that many believe has already paid off.

(Source: AP)

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