Leadership transition in Malaysia

Many people know that Anwar Ibrahim is the "crown prince" of Malaysia. Still, it must have come as a surprise for them to learn that, as of Tuesday, he is also the country's apprentice prime minister.

Anwar Ibrahim rose to prominence through a non-governmental organization called the Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Islamic Youths of Malaysia). His militancy and brilliance has made him a future Malaysian leader.

At the time the student protest against Japan's economic encroachment, known as Malari (late-1974 to early 1975), erupted in Indonesia, Anwar was organizing a similar movement in Malaysia. From his political activity, Anwar may be considered a peer of the Indonesian student protest leader, Hariman Siregar. He is younger than the 1966 student activists Abdul Gafur, Cosmas Batubara, Mar'ie Mohammad, or even Akbar Tanjung. Here in Indonesia, no young Indonesian of Anwar's generation has risen to prominence.

What can we learn from the current drift in Malaysia? The outlook concerning the national leadership transition in this country is not as clearly observable as in Malaysia. The previously powerless indigenous Malays have refound their lost self-confidence.

Surprisingly, the number of young Malaysians pursuing their studies abroad -- on government money -- far outnumber those from Indonesia. Naturally, Anwar Ibrahim is making use of their ideas for the advancement of their nation and country.

-- Republika, Jakarta