Jailed Malaysian reformist Anwar Ibrahim was granted a full pardon and freed on Wednesday, capping dramatic changes in the Southeast Asian country since the government was ousted in an election upset last week.
The question for Malaysia now is how Mr. Ibrahim will get along with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, his ally-turned-foe-turned-ally, and what role he will play in the new government.
Mr. Ibrahim, 70, said he would like to take time off with his family and did not intend to join the Cabinet any time soon.
He said he would support the government led by Mr. Mohamad and Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is Mr. Ibrahim’s wife. “I've told Tun Mahathir, I don’t need to serve in the Cabinet for now,” he said, using an honorific for the Prime Minister.
He said he had forgiven Mr. Mohamad, 92, who had him imprisoned two decades ago but has become his unlikely ally. “Now there is a new dawn for Malaysia,” said Mr. Ibrahim, flanked by his wife and other members of his political party. “The entire spectrum of Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, have stood by the principles of democracy and freedom. They demand change.”
‘Reform’ leader
Mr. Ibrahim has been in hospital for some months, for surgery on a shoulder. But he looked in fine fettle as he walked free for the first time in three years, dressed in a black suit and tie, his hair neatly swept back.
Supporters chanted “Reformasi” (Reform), the movement he launched two decades ago to challenge diverse Malaysia's race- and patronage-based politics.
Mr. Ibrahim was sentenced in 2015 to a five-year term for sodomy, a charge he says was trumped up by the government of ousted Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Mr. Mohamad, with whom Mr. Ibrahim joined forces to win last Wednesday’s election, greeted him at the palace where they both met the king.
Mr. Ibrahim was Mr. Mohamad’s deputy in the 1990s but fell out with his mentor during the Asian financial crisis. He was sacked from the ruling party and founded the Reformasi movement, challenging Mr. Mohamad’s government. Within weeks, he was arrested and jailed on charges of sodomy and corruption.
Images at the time of a goateed, bespectacled Mr. Ibrahim in court with a black eye and bruises brought condemnation of Mr. Mohamad from around the world. Mr. Ibrahim trial became a spectacle, with prosecutors at one stage bringing out what they said was a semen-stained mattress allegedly used when he had sex with two male aides. After being freed in 2004, Mr. Ibrahim was jailed a second time.
Miscarriage of justice
The pardon, which enables Mr. Ibrahim to re-enter politics immediately, was granted on the grounds that there had been a miscarriage of justice. Under a pre-election pact, Mr. Mohamad, 92, had vowed to enable Mr. Ibrahim’s release and eventually step aside for him to become Prime Minister.
On Tuesday, Mr. Mohamed said he expected to be Prime Minister for one or two more years, setting off talk of fresh differences between the two.
Differences have aleady cropped up between supporters of Mr. Mohamad and Mr. Ibrahim over Cabinet positions and Mr. Ibrahim’s role.
Mr. Mohamed is the leader of the ruling alliance and Mr. Ibrahim’s People's Justice Party won the majority of parliamentary seats in the alliance.
