Malaysian Anwar visits old friends, makes new ones

Tiarma Siboro and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

While Asian nations may have seen leadership changes over the past few years, old practices of corruption and nepotism are still very much in place, former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim says.

"Real economic policies can only be brought into reality if we have a willingness to promote total reform. I mean, total reform, at all levels," Anwar said in a seminar organized by the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) on Tuesday.

"We must stop corruption and nepotism from being continued. And as we talk about economic reform, we must not forget about justice and fairness in any kind of relationship -- between employers and labor, between the original (inhabitants) and the migrants," he said in the seminar called The Awakening of Asian Nations.

After more than 20 years in office, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad stepped down in 2003 and was replaced by his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Indonesia's former strongman Soeharto was forced to resign in May 1998 after more than three decades in office, but corruption, collusion and nepotism continue.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who took his oath of office last Oct. 20, has vowed to personally lead the country's fight against corruption.

Anwar, 57, who arrived here on Monday for a five-day visit, was released from jail last September after serving six years imprisonment on charges of corruption and sexual misconduct, which he said was trumped up by Mahathir to end his political career.

While serving his jail term at the Sungai Buloh penitentiary, he continued criticizing economic policies imposed by Malaysian administration, citing rampant crony capitalism -- an intricate network of close connections between private businesses, the state apparatus and government -- in countries like Malaysia that are bound together by state subsidies, contracts, preferential credit deals and government licenses.

Earlier in the day, Anwar met with speakers of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) in an event he described as a reunion with friends.

Speaking to the press after meeting with DPD Speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Anwar said that he had known Ginandjar since both leaders were ministers.

"Indonesia is like my second home. I have known Pak Ginandjar for a long time," said Anwar, who was accompanied by 13 delegates including ICMI executive Adi Sasono.

Anwar appreciated the presence of the DPD which in his opinion would have important role in boosting checks and balances between the legislature and the government.

Anwar also met Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid.

Hidayat said Anwar pledged to urge Malaysian people to treat Indonesian workers properly.

As Anwar entered the third day of his trip, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Haji Abdul Razak will arrive here on Wednesday for a four-day visit.

He will be greeted by Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the Vice Presidential Palace.

The visit aims to enhance the Indonesia-Malaysia bilateral relationship, with Razak slated to hold meetings with Indonesian ministers on the economy, and also with businessmen, the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta said in its statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.