Anwar courts ethnic Chinese from behind bars<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): From behind bars, ousted deputy premier
\nAnwar Ibrahim is making attempts to court Malaysia's ethnic
\nChinese ahead of the Lunar New Year.<\/p>\n
In a two-page statement faxed to AFP, Anwar warned of a new
\nplot to \"plant fear\" of ethnic clashes among the country's many
\nraces and turn them against reforms.<\/p>\n
\"Racism is the best weapon to pull wool over the people's eyes
\nfrom the current political duress, the economic crisis,
\ncorruption and oppression,\" the former leader said.<\/p>\n
\"I am confident that the Chinese community is wise and mature,
\nand not easily taken in by the cheap tactics of a group of
\ncorrupt Malay and Chinese political leaders.\"<\/p>\n
Ethnic Chinese, who make up one-third of Malaysia's 22 million
\npopulation, have largely regarded the Anwar saga as a Malay issue
\nbarring the participation of a few opposition leaders.<\/p>\n
Anwar, 51, was sacked by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in
\nSeptember following differences over economic policies. He was
\nlater arrested and charged with 10 counts of corruption and
\nsodomy, all of which he dismissed as part of a political
\nconspiracy to oust him.<\/p>\n
His trial on four of the corruption charges started in early
\nNovember and Anwar last week entered the witness box to mount his
\ndefense.<\/p>\n
In his new year message, Anwar blamed the \"arrogance of the
\npresent leadership\" for the country's political and economic mess
\n-- Malaysia plunged into recession for the first time in 13 years
\nin 1998.<\/p>\n
\"The crisis was the result of economic policies based purely
\non the penchant for mega projects and a crony system that
\n(enriched) a wealthy minority and isolated the majority poor,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"And because I opposed the policies internally, I was ousted
\nthrough a well-organized, expensive and despicable political
\nconspiracy.\"<\/p>\n
Anwar charged that corruption in the government was worsening,
\nwith the children, family and cronies of some leaders awarded
\nprojects and made nominees of big companies.<\/p>\n
He alleged that fewer than 10 people linked to the leadership
\njointly account for loans worth some 70 billion ringgit (US$18
\nbillion).<\/p>\n
Anwar voiced regret over the abuse of the New Economic Policy,
\nwhich gives preferential treatment for ethnic Malays.<\/p>\n
\"The handicap in the implementation of the policy has also
\ncaused frustration among the races, including the Chinese
\ncommunity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The policy was instituted in 1970 to allow the poorer Malays
\nto catch up with the wealthier Chinese following bloody racial
\nriots. It aims to put 30 percent of corporate wealth into the
\nhands of the Malays.<\/p>\n
Anwar, who was an Islamic activist in his student days, noted
\nthat there were efforts to slander him and turn the Chinese
\ncommunity against his reform movement.<\/p>\n
He cited his close ties with various religious groups despite
\nheading the Islamic Youth Movement before he joined the
\ngovernment in 1982.<\/p>\n
During his tenure as education minister, he said he encouraged
\nthe wide use of English and Chinese, and ordered that the
\nliteratures of eastern and western cultures be translated into
\nMalay.<\/p>\n
\"I do not have to be apologetic in my attitude towards the
\nChinese people. They know my stand as a youth leader and my role
\nin politics and the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Anwar said the reform movement did not intend to undermine
\ngovernment's plans to revive the economy but to \"oppose any
\nefforts to save companies belonging to cronies using public
\nmoney.\"<\/p>\n
Weekly street demonstrations by Anwar supporters to call for
\nreforms following his arrest had died down in November but his
\nwife Azizah formed the Social Justice Movement (ADIL) in December
\nto take up his cause.<\/p>\n
In a message published in the Islamic opposition newspaper
\nHarakah, Azizah said she hoped no political leader or media would
\nexploit the new year to \"instill fear\" among the Chinese
\npopulation.<\/p>\n
\"Chinese New Year is certainly not a season for political
\npropaganda and negative psychological warfare,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Azizah thanked Chinese supporters who \"give us quiet but firm
\nmoral support in this critical time of trial and tribulation.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/anwar-courts-ethnic-chinese-from-behind-bars-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}