Anwar Ibrahim returns to public life
1947: Anwar Ibrahim born in village near Penang state
1970s: Rises to prominence as radical pro-Islam student leader
1982: Joins Malaysia’s dominant party, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
1993: Appointed deputy prime minister under long-term premier Mahathir Mohamad
1998: Anwar sacked following tensions with Mahathir over economy and corruption issues. Anwar leads public protests calling for reform
1999: Jailed for abuse of power, sparking huge street protests
2000: Found guilty of sodomy with his wife’s driver
2004: Freed after Supreme Court overturns sodomy conviction 2008, Mar: Anwar-led opposition coalition makes unprecedented gains in general election
2008, Aug: Faces new charges of sodomy
2012: Acquitted by High Court 2013: Leads opposition to strongest ever election result 2014: Court overturns 2012 acquittal after government appeal
2015: Anwar jailed for five years
2016: Mahathir defects to opposition – unites with Anwar behind push to oust embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak
2018: Mahathir, 92, becomes prime minister after shock election victory
May 15: Anwar, 70, freed after royal pardon, paving way for return to politics