Malaysian martyr
In his own rather unusual way, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir has put his country squarely on the world map.
He has cast Malaysia into the remorseless amphitheater of international public opinion through the vindictive treatment of his former heir apparent, Anwar Ibrahim. By sacking Anwar on Sept. 2, then setting his terrier-like police on the reformist politician, Mahathir has not only angered his own people, he has sent shock wave around the globe.
Two days ago the world saw Anwar emerge from police custody with his eye blackened and bruised, a fitting metaphor for Malaysian democracy -- large, dark and brutalized. As if that drama was not enough in its own right, immediately after a bruised Anwar claimed in court on Tuesday that he had been badly beaten by the police, Mahathir added a touch of farce with his outlandish response to the allegation. "Anwar," he said, "might have inflicted the injuries upon himself to gain public sympathy."
Initially we were at a loss as to how the Malaysian prime minister, a man renowned for blending religious moral values into his political sermons, could have turned such a poisonous tongue on the person he has been grooming to succeed him since 1993.
Through the events of the last month, and especially through the use of the notorious Internal Security Act to detain Anwar, Mahathir has rather startlingly unmasked himself as an authoritarian ruler.
His message is clear. The man who sacked all pro-reform editors from leading newspapers to make the media tow his line, wants to remind his people that he tolerates no dissent.
Malaysians, who have been caught of guard by the unfolding events, might well wonder that if a former deputy prime minister can be brutally assaulted whilst in police detention, what hope is there for ordinary political activists? They should also consider that if police custody is not safe, then where on earth is? It is up to the Malaysians to answer these questions, but in seeking answers, they should bear in mind that Anwar has stated that his political demise was part of a conspiracy.
Where will this conspiracy take Malaysia? Despite Mahathir's degrading statement, the brutal treatment meted out by the police clearly shows his desperation. This desperation must surely have been brought on by a realization of the extent to which his own people oppose his rule, as evidenced by the huge numbers demonstrating against him on the streets.
He must have realized that he now only enjoys the support of officials from the ruling UMNO, which he holds in the grip of an iron hand, albeit cloaked in a velvet glove. Outside this cozy little arrangement looms the growing shadow of a people's power movement.
Malaysians, who have never enjoyed a truly free press, have nevertheless become accustomed to political stability, sound economic growth and a strong national leader, whom they loved.
The events of the last month have taken them by surprise. Many can think of no better solution than to let God decide who should take over the reins of power from an aging Mahathir, who appears increasingly unable to keep his seat in the saddle. It is true to say that never before has this nation been gripped by political confusion on this scale, and the recent brutality is unprecedented in its history.
Mahathir compounded this confusion by jailing Anwar and all other leading figures capable of orchestrating an effective campaign for reform. In theory, Mahathir should not now face any significant political opposition in the foreseeable future. Anwar's wife, Dr. Azizah Ismail, does not appear to have the qualities necessary to take up her husband's torch in the way of Corry Aquino, the wife of a murdered Filipino politician who toppled the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Besides, Mahathir has not been as destructive as the ousted Philippine strongman and the grudges borne against him do not run as deeply as they did against Marcos.
Azizah is also unlikely to be strong enough to act the role of an avenging fury like Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto, and Malaysia is not facing an economic calamity of the sort that brought Soeharto crashing down in May.
It will take time for Malaysia to emerge from the shock of the last month and realize that Mahathir has become a danger to their democracy. Only then will they understand that his despotic style is more than capable of inflicting intolerable and irreparable damage on their country.
It will also take time for Mahathir to see that he has sown the seeds of his own downfall. He has created a martyr.