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Web-only Exclusives November 30, 2000 From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead Bad news for the Philippines - and some others From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights? |
NOVEMBER 12, 1999 VOL. 25 NO. 45
Claims, Counter-Claims
The new routine in Malaysian politics
By ARJUNA RANAWANA Kuala Lumpur
Lay on the sleaze. In court, sacked deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim has been pouring out dirt about his erstwhile colleagues. Anwar has accused cabinet members of conspiring against him - and of being corrupt. But Anwar himself now stands accused of the same thing. Abdul Murad Khalid, a former central bank assistant governor, held a press conference Oct. 28 at which he claimed he had helped Anwar stash away nearly $790 million in slush funds.
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All these claims and counter-claims will be overshadowed if PM Mahathir Mohamad testifies in Anwar's trial. He says he will, and the court has already issued a subpoena for him to do so. As Mahathir will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting in South Africa from Nov. 9, he may not appear till the end of the month.
The trial has a bearing on when Mahathir will call general elections. The government wants to make the sodomy charges against Anwar an election issue, but, theoretically, they cannot be mentioned as this could lead to contempt of court. Officials believe the opposition is deliberately dragging out the case, not only to build its election machinery but also to stretch the polling date past January, when hundreds of thousands of new voters - many expected to vote opposition - become eligible. The defense says it wants to present Anwar's case comprehensively.
The government is certainly laying the groundwork for polls. On Oct. 29 it tabled what is clearly an election budget amid what is already a recovering economy. Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, one of those named by Anwar in his testimony, cut personal income tax by 1%, raised the taxable ceiling, and gave government workers a 10% pay hike and a 1,000-ringgit (about $260) bonus. The budget also diverted cash to improving infrastructure in rural areas, where the crucial battles will be fought. Politics is dirty - and costly.
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Malaysia: The Leader in Waiting
Tengku Razaleigh could well be Mahathir Mohamad's heir apparent - if he can win his home state
• Claims, Counter-Claims: The new routine in Malaysian politics
• Meanwhile, at the Front: On the campaign trail in Kelantan
• ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Full Interview
'What Will Be Will Be' - That's Razaleigh's fatalistic take on becoming a future leader. Sure
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