A RECENT book entitled Anwar Ibrahim: A Pursuit of Global Peace and Justice Through Dialogue by Yusmadi Yusoff, a former parliamentarian and PKR member, extols the virtues of Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
However, Yusmadi in his zeal to promote Anwar for whatever reasons fails to examine contradictory nature of Anwar’s approach to international justice and diplomacy.
He fails to explain why the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman has two sets of policies when it comes to the question of justice and diplomacy.
At the international front, Anwar has emerged as the champion of the Palestinians. Whether such a role is acknowledged by the US or even the divided Arab World remains to be seen.
Apart from the humanitarian concerns on the plight of the Palestinians, Anwar’s foreign policies are very much aligned to domestic political considerations.
His high profile on the Palestinian matter is also predicated on getting local Malay Muslim support. In other words, for reasons of local political traction.
Apart from the Palestinian matter, has Anwar raised other humanitarian global issues partly on the plight of non-Muslims?
Recently, Anwar never even want to comment on the attacks against ethnic and religious minorities especially Hindus in Bangladesh.
Anwar is under an imagination that if he raises humanitarian problems of non-Muslims, his political traction with the Muslims in Malaysia might be diluted.
Double standards
In his recent visit to India, he was full of praises for his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi even to the extent of calling him his “brother”.
He praised India as a multi-cultural and multi-religious country. However, Anwar is not keen to promote multi-culturalism in Malaysia.
In terms of ethnic and religious composition, Malaysia might be termed as plural society. While Anwar talks about pluralism and diversity at the global level whenever it suits him, he seeks promote the ethnic and religious domination of the Malay Muslims.
How can Anwar be credited for pursuing global peace through dialogue when he supports the political, cultural and religious hegemony of the Malays?
It should not be forgotten that Anwar has role in the pursuit of Malay hegemonic politics, the primary cause of the erosion of the political, cultural and religious rights of the non-Malays who account for 40% of the country’s population.
Anwar might not be forceful proponent of the Malay rights over others, but his subtlety is more pernicious than other leaders before him.
Anwar has the ability to impart different messages to different audiences on the same subject. At the international front, he might be appreciated for his grandiose speeches but at the domestic front, Anwar is less than honest or straightforward. In other words, Anwar is a chameleon par excellence.
There is nothing in the way of policies that can extol the virtues of Anwar. At the end of the day, Anwar is just another opportunistic politician hoping to last the full term as the country’s PM.
Despite bending over backwards to appease the Malays, the latter has moved away to support the opposition parties.
The non-Malays are his main supporters but unfortunately their rights have been ignored by him in the country. – Aug 24, 2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
