[ad_1]
PORT DICKSON, Malaysia (Reuters) – Malaysian Anwar Ibrahim faces the first test of his return to politics on Saturday, during a by-election that would allow him to claim the post of prime minister, as promised by Premier Minister and former enemy Mahathir Mohamad.
PHOTO FILE: Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian politician, speaks at the Singapore Summit in Singapore on September 15, 2018. REUTERS / Edgar Su / File Photo
Anwar, who is expected to win, needs a strong mandate in the fight on the Port Dickson coastal seat to counter criticism that he is in a hurry to take over from Mahathir, 93, five months old hardly after his release. jail.
"A larger margin will give the by-election the appearance of a coronation, which Anwar has been waiting for for 20 years," said Adib Zalkapli, an analyst at Vriens & Partners, a consulting firm. political risk counseling.
"If he wins by a smaller margin, he can be perceived as a mere pride of Mahathir's popularity, without gaining any new support for the coalition."
Mahathir led the Pakatan Harapan coalition, or Alliance of Hope, to a landslide victory in the May legislative elections, overthrowing his former protégé, Najib Razak, and ending the 61-year-old reign of the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Their campaign has focused on corruption issues sparked by a multi-billion dollar scandal in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) public fund, on which Najib and his wife are being targeted. investigation.
Anwar could not argue because he was in jail for a sodomy sentence in 2015, but his renewed partnership with Mahathir was key to the electoral victory, after which Mahathir obtained a royal pardon for Anwar.
The two men had an acrimonious relationship over the last two decades when Mahathir, in his previous tenure as prime minister, sacked Anwar from his MP position in 1998. A year later, Anwar was convicted of bribery and sodomy.
Anwar and his supporters argue that all charges were invented to end his political career.
On Saturday, Anwar faces a motley crew of six suitors, including his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan, accused of sodomy against Anwar, which resulted in a second term of imprisonment for the former deputy prime minister. .
Saiful said that he was trying to prevent Anwar from becoming prime minister.
"It's not all about people. This is his personal agenda to become prime minister, "Saiful told Reuters.
Another candidate, Stevie Chan, who has developed a strong audience on the social network Twitter, also said that he was contesting opposition to "political adversity and arrogance".
But 74 percent of those surveyed would still vote for Anwar, according to a poll by the Darul Ehsan Institute, a state-run think tank created by Selangor State and led by its Pakatan coalition.
Anwar maintained a frantic campaign, backed by the leaders of the ruling coalition, illustrating the charisma that kicked off the reformasi movement, or reform, after its dismissal in 1998.
Even Mahathir made an appearance, joining Anwar on stage for the first time in 20 years during a mega rally on Monday.
Mahathir was the right man to lead the country "in the current situation," Anwar told the rally, in response to critics who question his ambitions.
"I say it in all humility. I know him, I love him as a father and a chef. I fought against him and I now recognize that he is the best man to lead Malaysia now, "he said, to the thunderous applause of thousands of sympathizers.
Reportage of Joseph Sipalan; Edited by A. Ananthalakshmi and Clarence Fernandez
