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Interview ASIAWEEK talks with Anwar Ibrahim
Counterpoint Ghafar's unofficially official point of view
Stocks Pumping up the bourse
ASEAN Life without Anwar
How Anwar Fell A timeline of the Deputy PM's demise
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN a straightforward show of support for the prime minister - but for one man. On Sept. 5, Mahathir Mohamad was meeting with some regional leaders of his United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the dominant party of Malaysia's ruling coalition. He used the occasion to allow one of his vocal supporters, Supreme Council member Ibrahim Ali, to lash out at former deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim, controversially dismissed by Mahathir three days earlier amid accusations of illicit sexual activities and other offenses. As the PM was about to wind up the meeting claiming unanimous support for the sacking, state assemblyman Kamaruddin Mohamed Nor stood up to voice his objections. The longtime Anwar ally told Mahathir that if only he would allow people to speak their minds, he would realize there was much less conformity of views. Furthermore, Kamaruddin said, the evidence being cited for Anwar's alleged sexual misconduct was flimsy.
"Under Islamic law, a Muslim who accuses another of adultery better have solid, corroborative evidence," he said. "False or less-than-solid evidence is punishable by 80 lashes under Islam's shariah law. Since I am not convinced there is enough evidence, as a Muslim I have to register my dissent." Kamaruddin later told friends that irrespective of what happens to Anwar, "I have to answer to my creator one day."
Whether motivated by his conscience or simply a desire to defend an old friend, Kamaruddin's was a defiant act. The sacking of Anwar as deputy PM and finance minister, and his expulsion from UMNO and the party's deputy presidency, has stunned not only Malaysia but much of the region. At home, ordinary Malaysians have been flocking to Anwar's house in droves to show their support. Abroad, says Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda of the Malaysian Strategic Research Center, "many in ASEAN are shocked - they didn't expect [Anwar's dismissal]." Anwar's aides say ASEAN dignitaries have called their boss to commiserate, most notably Indonesian President B.J. Habibie. Philippine President Joseph Ejercito Estrada describes Anwar as "a good friend." He adds: "Prime Minister Mahathir has allowed pride to get the better of him, at the expense of his people and country."
Precious few Malaysian government and party officials agree with such sentiments, at least not openly. During a late-night UMNO Supreme Council meeting held on Sept. 3 - a day after Anwar was stripped of his cabinet posts - he was given the chance to defend himself. None of his peers present offered their support. Instead, they asked him to resign from his party post; he refused. Anwar left the meeting early; as he departed from the building, he signaled to his grassroots supporters gathered outside that he had been axed by running his finger across his throat. As expected, Mahathir announced half an hour later that his onetime heir apparent had been expelled from UMNO. The reason? "We find him not suitable, that's all," said the PM.
By then, the consequences of crossing Mahathir were already apparent to Anwar's family, who experienced firsthand how far the government was prepared to go to move them out of their official residence. At precisely 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 2, as of when Anwar was no longer the deputy PM and finance minister, "electricity was cut off and we had to use a backup generator," says his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. "Next day, they cut off the water. We knew Mahathir was going to be very petty, so we moved as quickly as we could to our own house." As soon as the sacking was made public, Wan Azizah paid a visit to Mahathir's wife Siti Hasmah (the two official residences of the PM and deputy PM are just a few hundred meters apart). "She's aways been very motherly. When I got to her house we both looked at each other and cried," says Wan Azizah. "She told me: 'I am so sorry. My husband would not have fired your husband if he wasn't convinced all the allegations on sex, leaking official secrets and endangering national security were true.' " When she heard those words, says Wan Azizah, she left.
JUNE 1997: While Mahathir is away, the first of the poison-pen letters alleging sexual misconduct against Anwar appears.
JULY 1997: Mahathir returns; the currency contagion begins to spread regionwide.
AUGUST 1997: Mahathir publicly declares that the sex allegations against Anwar are false.
DECEMBER 1998: Mahathir and Anwar differ over monetary policy. The PM names confidant Daim Zainuddin head of the National Economic Action Council, undercutting Anwar's position as finance minister.
MARCH 1998: State oil corporation Petronas rescues the businesses of Mahathir's son Mirzan.
APRIL 1998: More poison-pen letters against Anwar appear.
JUNE 1998: The book 50 Reasons Why Anwar Can't Be Prime Minister is published. Mahathir accuses Anwar of laying the groundwork to challenge him eventually.
JUNE 1998: A busy month. UMNO Youth leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi brings up nepotism and corruption. The PM takes the remarks very personally and reveals the names of others who have benefited from government contracts and cheap share allocations, including Zahid himself and Anwar's friends and family members. Mahathir appoints Daim special functions minister in charge of economic development, and apparently orders fresh investigations into the sexual allegations against Anwar. The PM starts believing them.
JULY 1998: Anwar's friend and tennis partner, S. Nallakaruppan (named in the book as the organizer of the sexcapades), is arrested under the Internal Security Act. Nalla, as he is known, denies any wrongdoing on behalf of Anwar.
SEPTEMBER 1998: Mahathir sacks Anwar as deputy prime minister and finance minister, taking up the latter portfolio himself. The UMNO Supreme Council expels Anwar as a member, so he loses his party deputy presidency too.
