Anwar case could change leadership in Malaysia

Anwar case could change leadership in Malaysia

SINGAPORE (AFP): Lingering negative sentiment over the arrest of Malaysia's former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim may force the ruling party to remove Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, according to a report received here.

The prestigious Political and Economic Risk Consultancy's (PERC) latest fortnightly report said Mahathir's "Achilles' heel," was the Supreme Council of the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) party of which he is president.

"For the moment, the senior Malay politicians that make up this body -- almost all Mahathir loyalists -- have calculated that the best hope for their respective political futures lies in continuing to express full support for the UMNO president," said the report.

"However, should the shock dismissal and subsequent arrest and trial of former finance minister Anwar continue to be viewed negatively among the Malay grassroots, they could very well come to the conclusion that a change of leadership would serve their own political ambitions more effectively," it added.

The report noted that Mahathir, 73, may wield huge political power, but the UMNO party "is not an organization of his own creation." Mahathir came to power in 1981.

Other analysts have said Mahathir is unlikely to risk letting his government complete its term as scheduled in April 2000, given the uncertainties clouding the economy and the region.

"The idea that Mahathir maintains a firm grip on all the major power bases in Malaysian society, however, is simply not true," the report said.

It noted that not all Malaysian states were under Mahathir's control, citing the Islamic fundamentalist party, Parti Islam Semalaysia's (PAS) control over the northeastern Malaysian states.

PAS has supported opposition protests that followed Anwar's arrest.

Access to the Internet which provides uncensored news reports on national affairs has also eroded the influence of the national media, which PERC considered among the power bases that helped UMNO and Mahathir "ensure victories in past political battles."

Anwar, 51, was arrested on Sept. 20 after leading huge protests calling on Mahathir to resign.

The former finance minister is currently on trial on four charges of corruption for allegedly abusing his official position by ordering police to quash allegations of sexual misconduct.