To News Editors 1 April 1999
For Immediate Release
ANWAR IS DEFIANT IN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW FROM PRISON
HONG KONG, 1 April 1999 -- In an exclusive written interview with the Far Eastern Economic
Review, jailed ex-Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim said his six months in jail had not
dampened support for his cause--either inside or outside Malaysia's ruling United Malays
National Organization.
"If there is anyone in Umno who says there is no support for me from within the
party, he must either be dreaming or fooling himself. There are influential party men
still in communication with me and still pledging their support," Anwar said.
In written responses to questions submitted by the REVIEW, Anwar also called Premier
Mahathir Mohamad a "desperate politician" and criticized his economic-management
skills.
The reason that no ministers resigned following the deputy premier's sacking in September
was that they feared retaliation by Mahathir, Anwar said. Support for his reformasi
movement was growing, he added.
"Malaysians are tired of being talked down to and seeing democracy and freedom
playing second fiddle to 'economic development.' These feelings are growing stronger by
the day," Anwar said.
Anwar said the matter of his beating while in police custody was not closed, even though
Inspector General of Police Rahim Noor had admitted responsibility. "Most people
don't believe that Rahim acted alone. They want to know whether Dr. Mahathir, as minister
of home affairs when the attack took place, was involved," Anwar said.
Anwar, who was also finance minister, rejected Mahathir's accusations that he had pursued
freemarket policies because he was a stooge of the West. He went on to criticize
Mahathir's economic-management skills.
"Dr. M. has been and continues to be in denial, blaming everyone except himself for
Malaysia's economic woes," Anwar said. "To do the right thing, one must first
bite the bullet. Dr. Mahathir has instead chosen to bite his critics. Corruption continues
to be excessive."
"Mahathir is a desperate politician who will spin anything to deflect criticism from
himself and his oppressive and corrupt regime. He realizes he is becoming increasingly
unpopular," Anwar said.
Anwar described his wife, opthalmologist Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as a
"remarkable" politician and called her advocacy group, Adil, "probably the
most successful civic group in Malaysian history."
Anwar was defiant even though he is facing the possibility of a long jail term: The
verdict in his trial on charges of corruption is due on April 6, and another trial on
sodomy charges hasn't been ruled out.
"I spend my time praying, preparing my defence, drawing up political strategies and
reading," he said of his prison routine. "Currently, I am re-reading The Penguin
History of the World. My lawyers provide me with some foreign magazines, but
understandably I get them a little late."
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