No big Anwar protests this time as Malaysians tackle bread and butter issues, say analysts

Anti-riot police guard the court complex in Putrajaya on the day the Federal Court upheld Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's jail sentence on February 10. There was, however, none of the angry large-scale protests as seen outside the court following Anwar's first conviction in 1999. – Reuters pic, February 20, 2015.

In stark contrast to the massive rallies and Reformasi protests of the late nineties, the incarceration of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last week failed to inspire Malaysians to take to the streets and support for the opposition leader is lukewarm at best.

Demonstrations outside the Sogo departmental store and the Sungai Buloh prison attracted far smaller crowds than when Anwar was first arrested in 1998, culminating in weekly street protests in Kuala Lumpur.

Political analysts said this was because the public no longer felt demonstrations would affect change, and that they have more pressing concerns than the PKR de facto chief’s imprisonment.

“The public are tired and fed up with Anwar’s trial. They are more concerned with the economy, their job security and their source of income,” said Dr James Chin, the director of the Asia Institute of the University of Tasmania.

He told The Malaysian Insider that he did not foresee a repeat of the 1998 protests, as Malaysians were growing weary of public demonstrations.

“No, not this time. Right now, demonstrations are not in fashion, though this may change in the future,” he said.

Dr Lim Teck Ghee, who heads the Centre for Policy Initiatives, said Malaysians now believed that street protests alone would not bring change to the country.

“In 1998, the middle class went out on the streets to pressure the government. For many of them, it was a new experience and they perhaps joined because they wanted to experience this new phenomenon and hoped they could change the country’s system by joining the protests.

“But now, the reality is that street protests do not bring change and that more is needed,” he said.

But he added the waning show of support towards Anwar did not necessarily mean that Malaysians were siding with Barisan Nasional (BN).

“The public may not be out on the streets but their unhappiness with the misgovernance and abuse of power (including in the case of Anwar) is gaining momentum,” he said.

He said BN’s continued attacks against Anwar even after his jailing proved that the ruling coalition still perceived him as a threat.

Loyal supporters of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim have vowed to hold vigil outside the prison gate in Sungai Buloh. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 20, 2015.One individual who took part in the 1998 Reformasi protests told The Malaysian Insider that he, too, did not expect the public to show Anwar the same level of support as when he was sacked from Umno 17 years ago.

“Honestly, I don’t see a repeat of the support they gave in 1998,” said the man, who only wanted to be identified as Hamdi.

He said this was most evident when no supporter dared to step forward immediately after the Federal Court announced on February 10 that Anwar would be sentenced to five years in jail

“In 1998, we stood our ground and fought with the police and would have stayed outside the court, but that time has passed.

“In Putrajaya, when Anwar was taken to prison, what happened? Everyone dispersed. The spirit is no longer the same,” said Hamdi.

He said Anwar’s supporters were no longer the same and were now too comfortable in their current positions, especially those who had become parliamentarians or held leadership posts in their parties.

“They are too comfortable. Many of the Reformasi figures are now parliamentarians.

“They are also forced to think about their own future and the positions they hold,” said Hamdi.

Although Lim said another huge demonstration would be impossible, he did not rule out the public showing their unhappiness through the ballot box.

“I expect the protest will take place in the polling centres during the next round,” he said.

- TMI