Big Interviews, Economics, Featured Work, Malaysia, Politics - Monday, May 5, 2008 10:24 - 0 Comments

Anwar Ibrahim on a changing Malaysia

Emerging Markets, ADB editions, Madrid, May 2008

March 8 was a day of mixed emotions in Malaysia. The country’s general election saw the worst performance for the ruling party in almost 40 years, losing its two-thirds majority. Some observers saw it as a victory for democracy, and sign of irreversible progress towards transparency and good governance. Investors thought differently: the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index lost 9.5% on the next trading day.

Few would have watched events with greater interest than Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia, and now very much the public face of opposition. At the time of writing, Anwar did not actually hold a seat: the general election, perhaps not coincidentally, took place before his ban on standing for office (a consequence of his conviction on corruption charges under former colleague Mahathir Mohamed) expired in April. However he is widely expected to return to parliament through a by-election, and thereafter to become leader of the opposition coalition. Continue…

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