Anwar's Date With Justice: Will PR Break Up?

A Kadir Jasin

THE clock is ticking for Parliamentary Opposition Leader and the Ketua Umum of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim.

On Tues, Feb 10, if the Federal Court keeps its date, Anwar will either be a free man or a prisoner.

If he is set free, his supporters will say justice prevails. His detractors will say the judges erred and the conspiracy theorists will say Obama has a role.

If he is sent to prison, his supporter will say that justice is perverted and some Umno guys will jump with up and down like flea-infested primates believing that this is the end of PKR and Pakatan Rakyat.

Sodomy Verdict: Ominous Clouds Over Palace of Justice

But the man himself believes that, based on the law and the testimony of witnesses, he would surely be found not guilty.

But if he is send to jail, he said, the PR would win the next election and take over Putrajaya.

I am inclined to share his optimism. The PR is unlikely to suffer instantaneously combustion upon his second sodomy jailing.

On the contrary, his imprisonment could increase the resolve of the alternative coalition and encourage the member parties to stay together in spite of their deep ideological differences.

It could also generate a new round of sympathy for him, especially among young anti-establishment Malaysians.

Bear in mind that the first sodomy trial and conviction (which was later overturned) took place in 1999 - some 15 years ago. Boys and girls who were then 10 or 15 years old are today 25 or 35 years old angry young men and women.

They did know much about what happened in the last century. But they know what is happening now. Even the most extreme of Umno loyalists admit that the Barisan Nasional (BN) is not getting the support of young voters by merely running down Anwar and the PR.

Anwar is preparing for the Feb 10 verdict well. On Feb 7 Anwar was reported as saying that despite all the attacks against PR, the opposition coalition still obtained 52% of the popular vote in the last general election.

"The people support us. We got 52% (of popular votes). If I am put in jail again, we will win 60%," he said at a gathering in Sungai Dua, Bayan Baru in Penang.

The vintage Anwar prevails, declaring “lawan tetap lawan” irrespective of whether he is jailed or not.

One PKR Member of Parliament put it this way. The PR idea was born when Anwar was in prison. It proved effective during the 1999 general elections. It took off when Anwar was released. It would not die should Anwar be sent to jail again. In the beginning it was driven by idealism. Now driven by the power vested in it by the people.

Wallahuaklam.