A grand welcome back
20 years of hardship has finally paid off
The loud monotone notes of vuvuzelas and cries of ‘Reformasi’ filled the air as a massive crowd turned up for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s first speech as a free man after obtaining a full royal pardon. The PKR leader says he is in no hurry to return to the Cabinet, let alone set a time-frame for the eventual handing over of power, and wants to take a short break to spend time with his family for now.
KUALA LUMPUR: “It has allowed me to breathe fresh air,” was how Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described the culmination of the journey that saw him leaving the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital as a free man, and whisked to Istana Negara to receive a royal pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“From prison to palace, our struggle, everything we have gone through for the last 20 years, has not been in vain,” he said at his home in Segambut during his first press conference yesterday.
Anwar thanked Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V for granting the royal pardon without any conditions.
“I was deeply gratified by the wealth of knowledge, concern and compassion showed by the King,” he added.
He also thanked Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for working to secure his release, and praised the elder statesman.
“My interest now is the nation. I have forgiven him (Dr Mahathir).
“He has proven his mettle, he has made sacrifices, he was maligned in the media, it is like deja vu,” he said, alluding to the similarity between his own political journey with Dr Mahathir’s experiences.
With his hair neatly combed and wearing dark-rimmed glasses, Anwar was flanked by his wife Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali. Scores of other family members and supporters stood behind him during the question-and-answer session with the media.
Anwar said he would not be making an immediate return to politics, and would spend time with his family.
He revealed that he has been invited to give lectures at several universities overseas, including Harvard, Georgetown and Stanford.
He expressed his full support for Dr Mahathir’s leadership to enable the newly elected Prime Minister to implement the reform agenda.
“I don’t think I want to be seen as being hasty to demand or insist on any immediate time-frame and I have told him this,” he said.
Anwar said he bore no malice towards former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, saying he did not wish to make an issue out of his incarceration.
“But the issue of injustice towards the people, endemic corruption that has become a culture in this country, that is an issue,” said Anwar.
He said he would commit to continuous direct contact with Dr Mahathir: “I believe we will ensure that the smooth transition in the near future will be something for Malaysians to be proud of.”
Asked if he would play any role in deciding the Cabinet line-up, Anwar said it was Dr Mahathir’s prerogative, but he was given the assurance that the Prime Minister would consult all Pakatan Harapan component party leaders before deciding.
On his readiness to accept any post if offered, Anwar said: “I have informed Tun that it is better for him, Wan Azizah and the team to continue and just allow me to take some time for my family, even though it is my wife who will be Deputy Prime Minister.
“I think Tun will certainly welcome that decision, because I told him, I will be kept informed. I will of course be interested to know what is happening, but I don’t need to be in the Cabinet for now.”
Anwar had been serving a fiveyear jail sentence since February 2015 following his conviction for sodomy. He was originally scheduled to be released on June 8.