Anwar saga continues to haunt PM Mahathir<\/p>\n
By M.Jegathesan<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Despite being behind bars, ex-deputy
\npremier Anwar Ibrahim continues to haunt Prime Minister Mahathir
\nMohamad, as his supporters mounted anti-government protests over
\nthe weekend despite a police clampdown.<\/p>\n
Diplomats and opposition leaders said the jailed Anwar
\nremained a potential threat to Mahathir and his regime, although
\na ruling party official strongly rejected the claims.<\/p>\n
Police last Saturday used water cannons and teargas to break
\nup sporadic demonstrations by Anwar supporters in the city center
\nto mark the first anniversary of his sentencing, the first time
\nin seven months authorities have done so.<\/p>\n
The heavy security presence foiled plans for a mass rally and
\na march on the palace to submit a memorandum on Anwar's case to
\nthe king.<\/p>\n
\"Anwar certainly remains on the mind of Mahathir. Unlike
\nMahathir's previous deputies, Anwar has charisma and the ability
\nto garner grassroots support,\" one Western diplomat told AFP.<\/p>\n
While Mahathir, 74, is firmly in control, the diplomat said
\nAnwar's defiant attitude irked the premier.<\/p>\n
\"I think Anwar is a potential force when released from jail,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Anwar, 52, was sacked by Mahathir as deputy premier and
\nfinance minister in September 1998 and detained later that month
\nunder a security act for leading mass anti-government rallies.<\/p>\n
He was sentenced to six years in jail last April for abusing
\nhis power to cover-up allegations of sexual misconduct and is now
\non trial for sodomy.<\/p>\n
Anwar says he is the victim of a high-level conspiracy because
\nhe intended to expose corruption and was seen as a political
\nthreat to the premier.<\/p>\n
The diplomat said the massive show of force last Saturday
\ncould have been due to a \"sense of insecurity\" in Mahathir's
\nUnited Malays National Organization (UMNO), which saw its support
\nbase eroded in November's general election.<\/p>\n
UMNO lost 22 parliamentary seats to opposition parties, mainly
\nthe resurgent Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), after Anwar's
\ntreatment split the ethnic Malay community.<\/p>\n
With less than a month to the UMNO general assembly to elect
\ntop leaders, one Asian diplomat said authorities may be aiming to
\nshow they are fully in control.<\/p>\n
\"The Anwar saga remains a concern to Mahathir and his allies
\nbecause the Malay community remains unhappy with UMNO,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But UMNO Supreme Council member Ibrahim Ali said Anwar did not
\npose a threat to the government or the ruling party.<\/p>\n
\"The Anwar saga will be dead and gone by the time we have the
\nnext election some time in 2004-2005,\" he said.<\/p>\n
UMNO will hold its triennial party election on May 11.
\nMahathir has been assured of the party presidency and his
\npreferred successor, deputy premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, will
\nbe selected deputy president.<\/p>\n
The president and deputy president of UMNO are traditionally
\nmade the country's premier and deputy premier.<\/p>\n
Chandra Muzaffar, deputy president of the National Justice
\nParty (Keadilan) headed by Anwar's wife, described the \"heavy-
\nhanded tactic\" by police as a \"concerted attempt to marginalise
\nAnwar.\"<\/p>\n
He said the clampdown was also part of a \"continuing pattern
\nto tighten the screw\" on opposition parties following the erosion
\nof support for the ruling coalition in November's polls.<\/p>\n
Tian Chua, Keadilan vice-president, said Anwar's determination
\nto fight for reforms despite being behind bars continued to haunt
\nMahathir.<\/p>\n
\"I think that anything that is associated with Anwar, they
\nwill come down hard. Mahathir is paranoid about it. They are
\nfinding ways to arrest more Keadilan leaders,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tian was arrested by police Sunday shortly after his press
\nconference. Police last Friday detained three Keadilan leaders
\nand are seeking another three. They arrested 48 people during
\nlast Saturday's protests.<\/p>",
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