It is with great interest that i read Dr Wan Azizah's "account of her eldest daughter's recent wedding":http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200305200034453.php. She was thankful, regretful and slightly angry all at the same time. But most of all, i think she was a mother and a wife; in difficult times, i think her dedication to her family is worthy of applause.
I won't partake in "the debate":http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200305200034454.php that "Suresh":http://suresh.gnasegarah.org/ has started on the one-trick pony that is KeAdilan, nor will i argue about the merits or de-merits surrounding the hoopla that is the trial and subsequent incarceration of Mr Anwar Ibrahim.
But i will explore the "what if" of his release.
If Anwar Ibrahim was released tomorrow, the happiest people in the country will be his family. Being without your father and husband is a living hell that most average people will be thankful to never experience.
A close second in the happiness trail will be Malaysians who believe that his release is finally justice being served. Perhaps, there will be a round of recriminations and accusations; it will be argued he should never have had to serve any time at all, and his release is a vindication of his innocence. But such rumbling will quiet down quickly as most will be satisfied to thumb their nose at the anti-Anwarites.
The media will have their circus. Abdullah Badawi will spin it as a merciful act by a benevolent Government. Dr Mahathir will just mumble something about "Western domination". And the US and the rest of the free world will collectively pat themselves on the back for a job well done: their brand of "constructive engagement":http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ccba/cear/issues/fall97/graphics/special/debary/debary.htm has once again succeeded, the Mandela of East Asia was free.
Once the noise dies down, my question is, then what? Whereto Anwar Ibrahim and KeAdilan? Perhaps a return to politics? Only possible if his release was precipitated by a royal pardon since convicted criminals cannot hold public office. And even if he could return, one would wonder how long he'll last the frantic pandering of opposition politics - "his health problems":http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/2001/malaysia07022001.html will limit his reach, and his past position in UMNO will place him in a hypocritical conumdrum: you don't become Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia without making enemies on the other side and pulling some dirty fast ones along the way (i am reminded of the "list of Anwar's cronies that was posted":http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/98/0828/cs_2_mcronies.html outside on the walls of PWTC during an UMNO general assembly).
Perhaps Anwar Ibrahim will fade into obscurity, occasionally lending his voice from afar on any issue of particular pertinence to the nation. Perhaps he will look forward to being a grandfather, perhaps he will write a book or two (critically acclaimed best-sellers, of course).
But whatever happens, i think its important to be realistic about things. Anwar Ibrahim's influence in the past, before he was sent to jail, was built on the foundations of the very political institution that he would seek to change if he were released. Before, his impact was weighted by the impressive might of the BN political machinations. Such resources will no longer be available to him. And even if there were, one would argue how far a frail and broken body will take him.
Given the limited impact his release would bring, one wonders why there is reason to hold him any longer. Its not uncommon for well-behaved convicts to be released after half their term has been served.
Let him go, enough is enough.
Published in Malaysiakini.com on "22 May 2003":http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200305220034476.php.
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