Anwar Ibrahim

The former deputy prime minister, confined to a wheelchair because of a back complaint, used his first few minutes of freedom to urge the country's recently installed prime minister to drive harder on reform.

"Thank God it's over," Anwar said after the Federal Court decision was announced. "I have to give credit to the new prime minister for not interfering with the judiciary. . . . I appeal to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to make the necessary reforms."

Before his jailing, Anwar was a lightning rod for disaffected Malays, the country's majority ethnic grouping that dominates politics, and turned against then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who was instrumental in his rise and fall.

The decision could be a defining moment for the leadership of Abdullah, who succeeded Mahathir a year ago and won a landslide election victory in March on an agenda of tolerance and a pledge to clean up corruption -- an echo of Anwar's agenda.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 11, 2004
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