Anwar Ibrahim - Making Democracy Real: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim speaking at the Making Democracy Real conference (Photo: Shradha Narayanan)Asia Plateau, Panchgani, 11th January 2012

Days after his acquittal on legal charges, Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, spoke out about the importance of conscience in politics. He asserted that ‘what is politically right cannot be morally wrong, and what is morally right cannot be politically wrong’, and that one cannot struggle without a moral foundation.

The speech was given at the Making Democracy Real Dialogue organised by Initiatives of Change, India and hosted at Asia Plateau, Panchgani. The Dialogue had also previously been addressed by Burmese democratic-campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi, and by Dr Riek Machar Teny, the Vice-President of South Sudan, as well as Egyptian ‘revolutionists’ from the Arab Spring.

Anwar bin Ibrahim spoke of how his first visit to Asia Plateau, as a student leader 40 years ago, motivated him with ‘an appeal to conscience, moral fibre and to the heart, the spirit’. He said that he had always been careful that as a government minister his children did not receive the privileged lifestyle other ministers’ children were accustomed to, instead attending the local Quranic school. He told how six years in solitary confinement in prison had given him the chance to read and reflect deeply, for which he is grateful. Upon release from prison, his first statement was ‘Let’s move on’ and to publicly forgive the Inspector General of Police who had beaten him.

Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the former Deputy Prime Minister’s wife, provided another model of strength. In response to question from the audience, she said that she had managed to stand firm as she was ‘just a mother’ and had to remain strong to take care of her children, continuing to be thankful for their health and education.

Anwar Ibrahim - Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail: Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Photo: Shradha Narayanan)Dato’ Seri Anwar also spoke about conscience and failures of conscience around the world. He dealt particularly with the shadow between ideal and actual democracy, citing the Arab Spring and the impact it had had in predominantly Muslim Malaysia, as well as the Occupy Wall Street Movement, which he characterised as cynicism about the current democratic capitalist model and its apparent absence of moral values. He praised Mahatma Gandhi, especially the simplicity of his message and his appeal to the weakest in society through powerful hope and sincerity.

Repeatedly, he emphasised what the ‘dictates of conscience’ require of us. Compassion is significant, he said, especially in economic factors where the promise of growth had to be balanced by duties to care for the less well off, remembering them as individual families suffering rather than simply figures. More than trust, politicians had an obligation to repay the loyalty and support of people by honouring their contract with them. Forgiveness was also important: just as Anwar had forgiven his attacker. Yet the injustice should not be forgotten or it could be committed again and again. Anwar also stressed his view that conscience-driven politics must be civil and involve a free exchange of ideas. To implement politics in this manner would require democratic nations to produce ‘men of sterner stuff’.