ANALYSIS
SEPT 24 — In the daily tearaway calendars of some Malaysian politicians, the date remains stuck at Sept 15.
For the rest of us in Malaysia and across the world, it's Sept 24 and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is not prime minister of Malaysia.
He remains a suspect in a sodomy case and was in the dock today to find out that he will be in the dock again on Oct 7, just a week before he can challenge Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's tenuous hold on the prime minister's post.
"I appeal to my Malaysian citizens, particularly those who want to see a change, to understand, to be a bit more patient," Anwar told reporters today outside the court as he backtracked on his boast of taking power by Sept 16.
"It is not an issue of deadlines," the former deputy prime minister said, ironically after setting both Sept 16 and Sept 23 as dates for his Pakatan Rakyat electoral pact to take power in Putrajaya.
Anwar had met his allies from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pas) and Democratic Action Party (DAP) yesterday where he briefed them of the alliance's plans to form the federal government, an issue that has been the exclusive provenance of Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in recent weeks leading to Malaysia Day.
Insiders from both Pas and DAP said their party leaders are not convinced of forming a federal government yet, preferring to concentrate on ruling the five states under Pakatan Rakyat to prove their worth ahead of the next general elections.
"If Anwar cannot form the federal government by Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, then the matter should be dropped," sources quoted a Pakatan Rakyat leader as saying during the meeting. Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, to mark the end of the holy Ramadan month, is scheduled for Oct 1.
The de factor PKR leader himself expressed confidence despite what his detractors say, retorting that "They have called me many things before. The point is if they believe I'm a liar, then put me to the test in Parliament." Parliament is due to reconvene on Oct 13.
The other concern from his allies, depending on who one talks to, is the lack or excess of Malay Muslim MPs joining Pakatan Rakyat. Pas has quietly expressed fears of being swamped by non-Muslim lawmakers while the DAP is concerned that any majority of a race could skew the power equation and turn the pact into a mirror image of Barisan Nasional.
Political observers say Anwar has been talking up the power change as the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition is feeble due to infighting within Umno and several other component parties as their party elections approach. Coupled with his upcoming sodomy trial, the charismatic politician has to seize the moment before the situation reverses.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's appointment as finance minister is seen as Abdullah's fightback to restore some stability in the ruling coalition although at the expense of his personal prestige and weakening his bargaining power in Umno party polls. Abdullah is counting on Najib's support to counter both Anwar and his in-house party critics as he goes for another term as party president.
But Najib's ascendancy and his perceived lack of interest in political and administrative reforms within the party and government has lengthened any expectations of reforms announced by Abdullah, particularly in the police and judiciary.
The prime minister's flagging interest in reforms and Anwar's receding chances of taking power will also delay any reforms in re-aligning wealth distribution in Malaysia, particularly the NEP which most people see as being beneficial to Umno only.
The wait for change, like Anwar's nose, grows longer as the days go by.
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