By Su-Yin Tan
Can we ever take what Anwar Ibrahim says for real? Having the gift of the gab and charisma to boot, Anwar has taken us for a ride on more than one occasion.
Remember the 40,000 Bangladeshis who supposedly voted in GE13? Remember not wanting to contest in Kajang, then doing it anyway?
Remember not wanting to become Selangor MB, then hinting that he would?
In a recent article by Raja Petra Kamarudin on Malaysia Today titled ‘Anwar Ibrahim’s Many U-turns’, the writer talks about Anwar now resurrecting allegations that Daim Zainuddin was corrupt to the core and abused his power as Finance Minister in 1984.
Funny how in 1991, when asked about this by Raja Petra and fellow members of the Malay Chamber of Commerce, Anwar was quick to brush aside these allegations as a dirty ploy by the opposition to smear the good name of the government, of which he was a part of as the country’s finance minister.
If it wasn’t true in 1991, why is it true in 2014?
Does being on the other side suddenly make you see things clearer and take on the mantle of crusader of the truth?
And if so, is Anwar suggesting that he lied in 1991 about Daim’s wrongdoings, knowing full well that the man was indeed making billions at the country’s expense?
Remember Anwar telling the crowds at his many Kajang ceramahs in March how he was a racist Umno politician because that is what the party ‘expected’ of him? Remember him mocking the Biro Tata Negara song that he once endorsed?
It does seem that Anwar can lie at the drop of a hat. Today he says ‘yea’, tomorrow he says ‘nay’. How can we then believe anything he says, including his innocence regarding his conviction of sodomy?
Shamsul Iskandar Mohd, MP for Bukit Katil and current head honcho of Angkatan Muda Keadilan, had better sit his boss down and rethink their political strategies.
After all, some of the allegations of abuse of power back in 1991 were aimed at Anwar himself. If he is now saying Daim was indeed guilty of corrupt acts, is he also suggesting he too dabbled in some serious hanky-panky that enriched his cronies?
In true Anwar fashion, is he going to say he was forced into corrupt activities by the big bad bullies of Umno?
We would like to believe that Anwar is an upright leader who believes in justice and the truth. Instead we have been exposed to Anwar’s worst side this past year as he scrambles to keep his political career intact while failing miserably to keep the PKR-DAP-PAS coalition a cohesive front for political change.
It’s almost tragic to see this weather-beaten politician grabbing at virtually anything to retain some semblance of political power.
If Anwar had a hand in every rancid pie while with Umno, his die-hard supporters are probably still willing to put these errors in judgement aside.
After all, many have claimed Anwar is a changed man. That said, is it not about time Anwar left the past in the past and focussed on the future, especially since he was once a part of that suspect past he now detests and attacks?
Anwar, how about the truth for a change? Tell us – did you not say to Raja Petra and his friends that Daim was innocent of any wrongdoing?
Did you not say it was just the opposition playing dirty? Did you not maintain all was above board? Or are you, as part of the opposition now, playing dirty like they did in 1991?
Is it yea or is it nay? Tell us the truth, why don’t you?
