A radical's rise

A radical's rise

Rumors have been rife for the last couple of years that
Malaysia's premier was preparing to announce his retirement in
1997 and hand over the reigns of power to his anointed successor
the following year.

Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamed's decision to take a two-
month break this summer, leaving deputy Anwar Ibrahim in charge,
makes that scenario now appear likely.

This seems to be an opportunity for Mahathir to watch from the
sidelines and see how his protege runs the country before taking
the ultimate step. In his 15-year tenure, the prime minister has
ruled with a firm hand, while his country has enjoyed stability
and strong economic growth. His administration has not been
without controversy, but his popularity remains relatively
unaffected, and this may be a prelude to him stepping into the
wings on a more permanent basis.

Although Ibrahim describes his relationship with the premier
as like father and son, they are markedly different in approach.
The 49-year-old started his political career as a long-haired
student radical in the 1960s, leading protests over low prices in
the rubber industry. The experience earned him 22 months in a
detention camp, but that did not stop Mahathir from luring him in
to the United Malays National Organization, and it has certainly
not dulled Ibrahim's liberal instincts. He has criticized his
country's harsh Internal Security Act, and poured scorn on the
notion that "Asian values" mean muted democracy and rule by
authoritarian excess. He believes dissent plays a valuable role
in a healthy and stable society. If he assumes power in the long
term, Malaysia can look forward to some changes in its political
structure.

He established his credentials in 1991 when he was appointed
finance minister, in spite of a perception in the business sector
that he was a lightweight with little understanding of economics.
There, too, he took a liberal line, equating economic development
with human development. At the same time he embarked on a reform
program, establishing an Independent Securities Commission which
did away with a lot of abuses and outside interference, and
greatly improved the image of the country's capital market on the
international stage.

A politician now respected by the business world, holding firm
to democratic ideals, and concerned about social welfare, the
environment and Malaysian culture, Ibrahim appears to have every
quality of an international statesman, but he is untried on the
wider political stage. This is his chance to prove that Malaysia
will be in safe keeping if the premiership passes to his hands.

-- South China Morning Post, Hong Kong