AP Interview: Anwar says he bears no malice toward Mahathir Eds:

AP Interview: Anwar says he bears no malice toward Mahathir Eds: RECASTS with Anwar's comments on Mahathir[ With BC-AS-GEN--Malaysia-Anwar-Thailand[ AP Photos[ By VIJAY JOSHI= Associated Press Writer= KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -

Anwar 'bears no malice' toward Mahathir

Vijay Joshi Associated Press/Kuala Lumpur

Anwar Ibrahim, jailed for alleged sodomy and fired as deputy premier by his then boss Mahathir Mohamad, says he bears no malice toward his mentor-turned foe, and paid tribute to the former prime minister for making Malaysia an economic success.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Anwar was bitter about his downfall but said what hurt him most was the sodomy charge that was overturned by a court in September, allowing him to be a free man after six months in jail.

The interview was a rare occasion when Anwar has spoken in such detail about Mahathir.

Anwar was also convicted of corruption following his bitter row with Mahathir, and has served that sentence. The two men, who shared a "father and son" relationship, have never met face to face since Anwar was fired in 1998.

Asked how he would react if he were to see Mahathir now, Anwar said: "I would invite him for tea. I have no malice against him. I would still be objective enough to evaluate his rule both in the positive way and negative way."

Anwar and Mahathir fell out in 1997 during the regional economic crisis after the deputy prime minister became increasingly vocal about alleged corruption in the Malaysian government.

Mahathir, who was prime minister for 22 years before stepping down on Oct. 31, 2003, is credited with making this tropical backwater of tin mines and rubber plantations into an economic powerhouse.

It is also acknowledged that Mahathir gave the country's ethnic Malays, subjugated by British colonial rulers and outsmarted by ethnic Chinese in business, the self confidence to rise above poverty.

"He had the strong personal resolve to change the Malay attitude and ensure that Malaysia is a successful country economically. That I grant him," Anwar said.

He said Mahathir was "initially" committed to rid the country of corruption, was against authoritarian policies, and wanted parliament to not remain merely a rubber stamp.

That's why, Anwar said, Mahathir gave "me so much latitude" to speak out against corruption. Even then he was careful and circumspect in his comments. If not he would have been fired much earlier, Anwar said.

But ultimately, the comments were perceived by Mahathir as being personally directed against him, for which he paid the price, Anwar said.

He denied that he was guilty of sodomy or corruption, dismissing the charges as "pathetic" and akin to tactics used by Stalin and Hitler.

GetAP 1.00 -- NOV 1, 2004 17:42:41