Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar in 2025
Anwar Ibrahim
Born	10 8, 1947
Birthplace	Cherok Tok Kun, Penang, Malayan Union
Nationality	Malaysian
Occupation	Politician
Title	Prime Minister of Malaysia
Known for	10th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Reformasi movement leader
Education	University of Malaya (B.A.)
Spouse(s)	Wan Azizah Wan Ismail

Anwar bin Ibrahim (born 10 August 1947) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia since November 2022. His political career, spanning more than four decades, has been marked by dramatic rises and falls — from his early days as a student activist and Islamic youth leader, through his ascent to the deputy prime ministership, to his imprisonment on charges he maintained were politically motivated, and ultimately to his assumption of the country's highest political office. Anwar is the president of the People's Justice Party (PKR) and chairman of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. He represents the constituency of Tambun in the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Malaysian Parliament. Since taking office as prime minister, Anwar has concurrently served as Minister of Finance, leading a unity government composed of multiple political parties and coalitions. His political journey, which saw him transition from a key figure within the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) to the leading voice of Malaysia's opposition movement and eventually to the premiership, remains one of the most consequential narratives in modern Malaysian politics.

Early Life

Anwar Ibrahim was born on 10 August 1947 in Cherok Tok Kun, in the Crown Colony of Penang, during the period of the Malayan Union, a British colonial administrative entity that preceded the Federation of Malaya. He grew up in a Malay Muslim family and was exposed to political and social activism from a relatively young age. His father, Ibrahim Abdul Rahman, was a member of parliament representing UMNO, which provided the young Anwar with early exposure to Malaysian political life.

During his formative years, Anwar became deeply involved in student activism. He served as president of the National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students (PKPIM), a role that positioned him as a prominent voice among Malay youth during a period of significant social and political change in Malaysia. He subsequently became the founding president of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia, or ABIM) in 1971, leading the organisation through the 1970s. ABIM under Anwar's leadership became one of the most influential Islamic organisations in Malaysia, advocating for social justice, educational reform, and greater adherence to Islamic principles in public life. His leadership of ABIM raised his national profile considerably and established him as a significant figure in Malaysian civil society before he entered formal party politics.

Anwar's activism during this period was not without controversy. In 1974, he was detained under the Internal Security Act for his involvement in student protests related to rural poverty. He spent approximately twenty months in detention, an experience that further shaped his political outlook and deepened his commitment to social reform. His detention also increased his standing among supporters, who viewed him as a principled advocate for the marginalised.

Education

Anwar Ibrahim attended the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, where he studied Malay Studies. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. His time at the university was significant not only for his academic pursuits but also for his emergence as a student leader. It was during his university years that he became president of the National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students, a position that served as a springboard for his later activism and political career. The University of Malaya, as the country's oldest and most prestigious university, provided a fertile environment for political engagement and intellectual discourse during the late 1960s and early 1970s, a period of considerable social upheaval in Malaysia.

Career

Entry into UMNO and Rise to Power

In 1982, Anwar Ibrahim made a pivotal decision by joining UMNO, then the dominant Malay political party and the leading component of the long-ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. His entry into UMNO was facilitated by then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who sought to co-opt the popular Islamic leader into the party's fold. Anwar's decision surprised many of his supporters in ABIM and the broader Islamic movement, some of whom viewed his move as a departure from his activist roots.

Within UMNO, Anwar rose rapidly through the ranks. He held several cabinet positions, including Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of Education. His tenure in these portfolios was marked by various policy initiatives, and he developed a reputation as an articulate and ambitious politician.

In 1991, Anwar was appointed as Minister of Finance, a position he held until 1998. During his time as finance minister, he oversaw a period of significant economic growth in Malaysia and played a central role in the country's economic policy. He was subsequently elevated to the position of Deputy Prime Minister in 1993, becoming the seventh holder of that office. As deputy prime minister and finance minister, Anwar was widely considered the heir apparent to Mahathir Mohamad.

The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and Political Downfall

Anwar's role as finance minister placed him at the centre of Malaysia's response to the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which devastated economies across Southeast Asia. During the crisis, significant policy differences emerged between Anwar and Prime Minister Mahathir. Anwar initially favoured austerity measures and cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while Mahathir advocated for capital controls and rejected IMF intervention. This policy disagreement became increasingly personal and political.

In September 1998, Mahathir dismissed Anwar from his positions as deputy prime minister and finance minister. Anwar was also expelled from UMNO. The dismissal triggered a political crisis in Malaysia, as Anwar publicly accused Mahathir of corruption and abuse of power. Anwar subsequently led mass street protests demanding political reform, a movement that became known as the Reformasi movement, drawing its name from the similar reform movement that had taken place in neighbouring Indonesia.

Shortly after his dismissal, Anwar was arrested and charged with corruption and sodomy. His arrest was marked by controversy when he appeared in court with a black eye, which it was later revealed had been inflicted by the then-Inspector General of Police, Rahim Noor, during Anwar's detention. In April 1999, Anwar was convicted on the corruption charge and sentenced to six years in prison. In 2000, he was convicted on the sodomy charge and sentenced to an additional nine years. Anwar and his supporters maintained that both sets of charges were politically motivated, designed to end his political career and silence his calls for reform.

Formation of the Opposition and Release from Prison

While Anwar was imprisoned, his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, founded the National Justice Party (later renamed the People's Justice Party, or PKR) to carry forward the Reformasi agenda. The party became a significant component of the Malaysian political opposition.

In 2004, Malaysia's Federal Court overturned Anwar's sodomy conviction, and he was released from prison after serving six years. His corruption conviction, however, stood, barring him from holding political office for a further five years, until April 2008. During this period, Anwar remained active in public life, delivering lectures and participating in international forums. He was affiliated with several international organisations and institutions, including serving in advisory roles related to governance and accountability. He also served as an honorary visiting professor and engaged with international bodies such as the World Bank.

Return to Active Politics and the 2008 General Election

On 14 April 2008, following the expiry of his political ban, Anwar was eligible to re-enter Malaysian politics. The 2008 Malaysian general election, held on 8 March 2008, had already delivered a historic result: the opposition, operating under an informal alliance, denied the Barisan Nasional coalition its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time since 1969 and won control of five state governments. Although Anwar did not contest the election himself due to his ongoing ban, he was widely credited as the driving force behind the opposition's gains.

Anwar merged the opposition parties into a formal coalition known as Pakatan Rakyat (PR), comprising PKR, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), and the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). He assumed the role of opposition leader.

In August 2008, Anwar won the Permatang Pauh by-election, returning to the Malaysian Parliament with a substantial majority. He subsequently became the 12th Leader of the Opposition in the Dewan Rakyat.

Following his return to parliament, Anwar made controversial claims in September 2008 that he had secured enough defections from government MPs to form a new government, setting a deadline of 16 September 2008 — the anniversary of the formation of Malaysia — for a change of power. The anticipated defections did not materialise, and the Barisan Nasional government remained in power.

Second Sodomy Charge and Imprisonment

In June 2008, a second sodomy charge was brought against Anwar, which he again denounced as politically motivated. The trial extended over several years. In January 2012, Anwar was acquitted of the charge by the High Court. However, in March 2014, the Court of Appeal reversed the acquittal and sentenced him to five years in prison. In February 2015, the Federal Court upheld the conviction, and Anwar began serving his sentence, effectively removing him from active politics once more.

The second sodomy case coincided with the Kajang Move in 2014, a political manoeuvre in which Anwar attempted to become the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Selangor by engineering a by-election in the Kajang state constituency. The move triggered a nine-month political crisis in Selangor and ultimately failed to achieve its objective before Anwar's conviction was upheld.

During his imprisonment, Anwar was stripped of his parliamentary seat and barred from contesting elections. He served as opposition leader from 2008 to 2015, a period during which the Pakatan Rakyat coalition contested the 2013 Malaysian general election. The coalition won the popular vote but failed to secure a parliamentary majority due to the effects of constituency delineation. Anwar disputed the election results and led subsequent protests alleging electoral irregularities.

Alliance with Mahathir and the 2018 General Election

In a remarkable political realignment, Anwar Ibrahim and his former rival Mahathir Mohamad reconciled and joined forces within the new Pakatan Harapan coalition ahead of the 2018 Malaysian general election. The coalition, which also included the DAP, PKR, and Parti Amanah Negara, contested the election with Mahathir as its prime ministerial candidate, with the understanding that Anwar would eventually succeed him after receiving a royal pardon.

On 9 May 2018, Pakatan Harapan won a historic victory, defeating the Barisan Nasional coalition that had governed Malaysia since independence. It marked the first change of government in the country's history. Mahathir was sworn in as prime minister, and Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, became the deputy prime minister.

On 16 May 2018, Anwar received a full royal pardon from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Muhammad V, securing his release from prison and restoring his political rights. He subsequently won the Port Dickson by-election in October 2018, returning to parliament once more.

2020–2022 Political Crisis

The Pakatan Harapan government collapsed in February 2020 during what became known as the Sheraton Move, a series of political defections that brought down the coalition. A new government was formed under Muhyiddin Yassin of Perikatan Nasional (PN), comprising a coalition of parties including defectors from PKR, UMNO, PAS, and other groups.

The collapse of the PH government meant that the planned transition from Mahathir to Anwar did not occur. Anwar became the Leader of the Opposition for a second time, serving in that role from 2020 to 2022. During this period, Malaysian politics remained highly unstable, with the Muhyiddin government eventually losing its parliamentary majority and being replaced by an UMNO-led government under Ismail Sabri Yaakob in August 2021.

Prime Minister of Malaysia

The 2022 Malaysian general election, held on 19 November 2022, produced a hung parliament, with no single coalition winning a majority. Pakatan Harapan won the largest number of seats, securing 82 of 222 parliamentary seats. After several days of political negotiations, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah appointed Anwar as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia. Anwar was sworn in on 24 November 2022, achieving a goal he had pursued for more than two decades.

On 2 December 2022, Anwar announced his cabinet, forming a unity government that included members of parliament from Pakatan Harapan, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Barisan Nasional (including UMNO), and several other parties. Anwar retained the finance portfolio for himself, serving concurrently as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

The unity government has faced criticism on several fronts. Controversies have included the legal case of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who received a discharge not amounting to acquittal on corruption charges, and the reduction of former prime minister Najib Razak's prison sentence. Critics have questioned whether these outcomes are consistent with the anti-corruption platform on which Pakatan Harapan campaigned. The government has also faced scrutiny for adopting certain conservative policy positions.

In January 2025, Malaysia assumed the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with Anwar serving as ASEAN chair. In this capacity, he has engaged in diplomatic efforts related to regional issues.

Personal Life

Anwar Ibrahim married Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, an ophthalmologist, in 1980. Wan Azizah entered politics following Anwar's imprisonment in 1998, founding the National Justice Party and later serving as president of PKR. She served as Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2018 to 2020 under the Pakatan Harapan government. The couple have six children.

Anwar's personal life has been significantly shaped by his periods of imprisonment. He spent a total of approximately eleven years in prison across two separate incarcerations — from 1999 to 2004, and from 2015 to 2018. During his imprisonment, he reportedly continued to read extensively and maintained communication with political allies and international supporters. His treatment while incarcerated, including the assault by the Inspector General of Police during his first arrest in 1998, drew international condemnation and attention to human rights conditions in Malaysia.

Anwar is known as a multilingual figure who is fluent in Malay and English and has a working knowledge of Arabic. He has been a frequent speaker at international forums and universities around the world.

Recognition

Anwar Ibrahim has received recognition from various international organisations and institutions over the course of his career. His role in the Reformasi movement and his experience as a political prisoner drew attention from international human rights organisations. Amnesty International designated him a prisoner of conscience during his first imprisonment.

During his periods outside of government, Anwar held visiting positions at several international institutions. He was involved with organisations focused on governance and democratic reform, including affiliations with bodies such as AccountAbility and the Foundation for the Future.

His electoral victory in the 2008 Permatang Pauh by-election was covered extensively by international media, reflecting the global interest in his political comeback. His eventual appointment as prime minister in 2022, after decades of political struggle, was reported internationally as a landmark moment in Malaysian politics.

As ASEAN chairman beginning in January 2025, Anwar has taken on a prominent diplomatic role in regional affairs, further elevating his international profile.

Legacy

Anwar Ibrahim's legacy in Malaysian politics is multifaceted. His Reformasi movement, launched in 1998, introduced a new dimension to Malaysian political discourse, emphasising democratic reform, anti-corruption, and civil liberties in a country that had been governed by the same coalition since independence in 1957. The movement galvanised a generation of Malaysians and contributed to the gradual weakening of Barisan Nasional's political dominance, a process that culminated in the coalition's defeat in the 2018 general election.

Anwar's role in building a multiethnic opposition coalition was a significant departure from Malaysia's traditionally race-based political system. Through Pakatan Rakyat and later Pakatan Harapan, he brought together parties representing different ethnic communities — Malay, Chinese, and Indian — under a common reformist platform. This coalition-building effort, while not without its internal tensions and setbacks, altered the structure of Malaysian politics.

His twice-repeated experience of imprisonment and political marginalisation, followed by returns to active politics, has made Anwar one of the most prominent political figures in Southeast Asia. His path to the prime ministership, achieved at the age of 75 after more than two decades of struggle, is frequently cited as an example of political perseverance.

However, Anwar's legacy also includes criticisms. His unity government's handling of corruption cases involving political allies, its accommodation of conservative positions, and the compromises inherent in governing with former political rivals have drawn scrutiny from some reform advocates who had supported his ascent to power. The extent to which his administration fulfils the reform agenda that defined his decades-long struggle remains a subject of ongoing assessment.