The news of Anwar Ibrahim's acquital spread like a wildfire on a dry and very hot day. While many greeted the news with satisfaction that somehow an injustice has been overturned, even more, I suspect, are ill at ease and very much aware what a free Anwar could do to their current position.
The old guard within the Cabinet in particular, would do well to watch their steps, because as I see it, Anwar will not be returning from Germany with a box full of strudel. Oh, and I don't mean he will be riding in to town at high noon reminiscent of the gun fight at OK Coral... but the ex-DPM has enough firepower in his arsenal to even some scores.
Having said that, PM Abdullah Badawi has probably made a calculated gamble in what is an elaborate masterplan that is designed to consolidate his position over the next decade and in the process sidelined potential threats to his premiership. He would have, among other resources, an awareness that while most Malaysians are fed-up with the sinister face of politics, the idea of Anwar doing a Mandela (no pun intended) is unlikely to happen. Idealogy may be good for the soul, but it doesn't pay the bills - unless you are an activist (and goodness me - how many of those do Keadilan have anyway??) who has not been polluted by the "stench" of honest employment (pun intended as directed!). Are we willing to risk another political and potential economic upheaval to right the wrong? No, I think we want to see the face of a credible opposition, and Anwar may represent Abdullah's best hope yet of "re-building" democracy or at least the resemblance of one.
The opposition ranks meanwhile must be wondering how to deal with this new development. An Anwar behind bars was a great advertisement for their struggles, but a free Anwar is a powerful voice that leaders of Keadilan, PAS and DAP cannot ignore. Lim Kit Siang may be the leader of the opposition in Parliament, but for now, at least, not the most effective voice for the opposition. However let's revisit a not-too-old idea: The merger of DAP and Keadilan. A weak Keadilan would naturally be drowned by the more vocal and feisty DAP - leaving Lim Kit Siang with an expanded support base and a jailed Anwar as a very effective poster boy for his agenda. With Anwar at the helm, Keadilan has acquired the voice of a giant - a respected intellectual no less, with enough understanding of what goes on behind the scenes to mount a credible challenge that would be unmatched by 12 Opposition MPs combined!
And what about the (wo)man on the street? Apart from being a very interesting topic of discussion, I believe this sends a positive signal that Abdullah has other priorities in mind for his legacy. I won't go so far as to say that he wants to restore democracy - not with Khairy lurking in the corridors of power. Perhaps he will be best known as the one who cleaned up after Dr M's legacy... not a grand legacy to be sure, but perhaps a necessary one.
Friday, September 03, 2004
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Now we have a 4-way race!
Manchester United Official Web Site - Club & News - News - Football News - 12:53:27 AM confirms the Rooney transfer!
RVN, Saha, Smith and now, Wayne Rooney. The last gasp transfer of the boy wonder some call Shrek serves up an enticing proposition - A competitive Manchester United able to fight blow for blow with the riches of Roman Abromovich and Liverpool's Spanish Armada with something akin to the firepower of Highbury's best!
The recruitment of Rooney offers Sir Alex a new dimension of options for example:
RVN - Rooney: with the latter playing behind the hitman
RVN - Saha/Smith - Rooney: in the case of an off form Scholes
Saha - Rooney: when RVN is injured - with potentially Alan Smith as the tip of a very attacking minded formation
Smith - Rooney: if we need some tenacity in attack!
And that is only covering the options with Rooney in it! With RVN, Rio and Henize staking claims to their respective positions, happy days are returning to Old Trafford.
It's even money if Rooney can fire up the imagination of the fans of the world's best supported club in so short a time as Alan Smith. However, his mercurial eye for goal and winning mentality will stand him in good company where others have failed. The question is - will 7 points be too much to make up with competition at the top being so close this time around?
RVN, Saha, Smith and now, Wayne Rooney. The last gasp transfer of the boy wonder some call Shrek serves up an enticing proposition - A competitive Manchester United able to fight blow for blow with the riches of Roman Abromovich and Liverpool's Spanish Armada with something akin to the firepower of Highbury's best!
The recruitment of Rooney offers Sir Alex a new dimension of options for example:
RVN - Rooney: with the latter playing behind the hitman
RVN - Saha/Smith - Rooney: in the case of an off form Scholes
Saha - Rooney: when RVN is injured - with potentially Alan Smith as the tip of a very attacking minded formation
Smith - Rooney: if we need some tenacity in attack!
And that is only covering the options with Rooney in it! With RVN, Rio and Henize staking claims to their respective positions, happy days are returning to Old Trafford.
It's even money if Rooney can fire up the imagination of the fans of the world's best supported club in so short a time as Alan Smith. However, his mercurial eye for goal and winning mentality will stand him in good company where others have failed. The question is - will 7 points be too much to make up with competition at the top being so close this time around?
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