Anwar case could change leadership in Malaysia<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): Lingering negative sentiment over the arrest
\nof Malaysia's former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim may force the
\nruling party to remove Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, according
\nto a report received here.<\/p>\n
The prestigious Political and Economic Risk Consultancy's
\n(PERC) latest fortnightly report said Mahathir's "Achilles'
\nheel," was the Supreme Council of the ruling United Malays
\nNational Organization (UMNO) party of which he is president.<\/p>\n
"For the moment, the senior Malay politicians that make up
\nthis body -- almost all Mahathir loyalists -- have calculated
\nthat the best hope for their respective political futures lies in
\ncontinuing to express full support for the UMNO president," said
\nthe report.<\/p>\n
"However, should the shock dismissal and subsequent arrest and
\ntrial of former finance minister Anwar continue to be viewed
\nnegatively among the Malay grassroots, they could very well come
\nto the conclusion that a change of leadership would serve their
\nown political ambitions more effectively," it added.<\/p>\n
The report noted that Mahathir, 73, may wield huge political
\npower, but the UMNO party "is not an organization of his own
\ncreation." Mahathir came to power in 1981.<\/p>\n
Other analysts have said Mahathir is unlikely to risk letting
\nhis government complete its term as scheduled in April 2000,
\ngiven the uncertainties clouding the economy and the region.<\/p>\n
"The idea that Mahathir maintains a firm grip on all the major
\npower bases in Malaysian society, however, is simply not true,"
\nthe report said.<\/p>\n
It noted that not all Malaysian states were under Mahathir's
\ncontrol, citing the Islamic fundamentalist party, Parti Islam
\nSemalaysia's (PAS) control over the northeastern Malaysian
\nstates.<\/p>\n
PAS has supported opposition protests that followed Anwar's
\narrest.<\/p>\n
Access to the Internet which provides uncensored news reports
\non national affairs has also eroded the influence of the national
\nmedia, which PERC considered among the power bases that helped
\nUMNO and Mahathir "ensure victories in past political battles."<\/p>\n
Anwar, 51, was arrested on Sept. 20 after leading huge
\nprotests calling on Mahathir to resign.<\/p>\n
The former finance minister is currently on trial on four
\ncharges of corruption for allegedly abusing his official position
\nby ordering police to quash allegations of sexual misconduct.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/anwar-case-could-change-leadership-in-malaysia-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}