Anwar Ibrahim, the jailed de facto leader of Malaysia’s opposition alliance, has backed a political deal led by his arch-enemy Mahathir Mohamad, wherein ruling party rebels and the opposition join forces to fight scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak.
This latest coalition could potentially pose the largest political threat to Najib, who faces persistent calls to step down amid multibillion-dollar bribery allegations related to the state investment fund he oversees, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
U.S. prosecutors on Wednesday filed five lawsuits searching for to seize assets price greater than $1 billion that they imagine were tied to money stolen from 1MDB.
Both Anwar and former Prime Minister Mahathir have long been major figures in Malaysian politics. The bitter dispute between the 2 senior leaders spanning almost 20 years has shaped the political landscape.
“Our position is to cooperate with and support all progressive forces on the democratic reform agendaPeople politics,” he said from prison through an intermediary, using the Malay word for citizen.
Anwar was at a court hearing this week when he made the remarks.
This is the second time Anwar has been sent to prison. He was first imprisoned by Mahathir on sodomy and corruption charges within the late Nineties, after Mahathir was fired as deputy prime minister.
Anwar, who has already been cleared of previous convictions, said he was willing to show a blind eye to many years of bad blood with Mahathir if it meant handing power back to the people.
“Depending on the politics committed to reform, democracy and pro-citizenship, the opposition has every reason to engage and cooperate,” he said.
Najib has to date appeared unrefutable within the face of the 1MDB scandal, which is the topic of world money laundering investigations in not less than six countries.
He has withstood constant attacks on his office as prime minister because the scandal broke 18 months ago. He rallied dissenting voices inside his ruling United Malay National Organization (Umno) and used draconian laws akin to the Sedition Act to silence activists and opposition party leaders.
So far, Najib has appeared unimpeachable within the face of the 1MDB scandal, which is being investigated in not less than six countries.
In his first comments because the US announced its actions, Najib announced “full cooperation”.
“Let the method take its course, but I need to say categorically that we’re serious about good governance,” he said, also stating that the motion was limited to those named within the complaints, including his stepson Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz.
“Those involved within the case will give you the chance to specific their views within the legal process within the United States,” Najib told reporters.
Just last week, Mahathir announced his plan to form a brand new splinter party composed of rebels from Najib’s ruling Umno that will function a platform for cooperation along with his former opposition foes.
Mahathir, who ruled for 22 years, had no qualms about pursuing his predominant goal of removing Najib over his management of 1MDB.
It is widely speculated that former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin – fired last 12 months by Najib – will head Mahathir’s latest party, securing influence from Johor, which is Umno’s southern stronghold. He may very well be a candidate for prime minister if the opposition manages to remove Najib.
Also in the combo is former Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal, whose resignation from the party triggered a mass exodus of Umno members from the Semporna parliamentary constituency in his home state of Sabah, one other Umno stronghold.
This article appeared within the print edition of the South China Morning Post as: As bitter enemies unite against the embattled Najib
