How Opposition Handed Anwar An Unintended Win

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 The scene on July 26 was familiar: Malaysia’s opposition gathering, banners aloft, voices raised against the sitting prime minister.
Yet, beneath the surface, this rally was profoundly different. Not only did it proceed peacefully, a stark departure from the water cannons and tear gas of past eras.
However, it culminated in a remarkable paradox: the apparent strengthening of the very man it sought to topple, Anwar Ibrahim.
Far from striking a decisive blow, the opposition’s event may well be remembered as a pivotal moment solidifying Anwar’s democratic credentials and inadvertently boosting Malaysia’s global standing.
ADSMany are even saying that the rally has boosted Anwar’s chances of another term.
Opposition seems to have no plan
The rally itself was notable for several reasons, not all flattering to its organisers. Reports of cash inducements cast a long shadow over the authenticity of the turnout.
While mobilising support is part of politics, resorting to direct payment risks trivialising genuine political grievance and raises questions about the depth of organic discontent.
More damningly, when pressed on the crucial question of “Who replaces Anwar?”, the gathered crowd offered no coherent answer.
This vacuum of credible, named alternatives was perhaps the rally’s most significant failure. It exposed the opposition’s fundamental weakness: an energetic desire for change, but a startling lack of a clear, unified vision or leadership to deliver it.
No tear gas, water cannons
The real headline, however, was the peace. The absence of the brute force that characterised protests during past administrations, and indeed during earlier phases of Malaysia’s democratic journey, speaks volumes.
The restraint shown by the police, operating under the current government’s directives, was palpable.
This shift from suppression to tolerance is monumental. It signals a maturing democracy where dissent, even large-scale dissent, is managed within the bounds of the law and public order, without resorting to the instruments of state violence.
Mounted police at Dataran Merdeka during the ‘Turun Anwar’ protestThis is the hallmark of a confident government, secure enough to allow its critics a platform. And herein lies Anwar’s victory.
The contrast effect was there for all to see. The peaceful nature of the rally, juxtaposed against memories of past crackdowns, actively enhances Anwar’s democratic image.
ADSIt allows him to credibly claim, “This is the Malaysia we are building - where you can protest without fear.” This resonates powerfully domestically and internationally.
The lack of a named successor or unified platform showcased the opposition’s fragmentation and strategic incoherence.
It shifted the narrative from “Anwar must go” to “Go? For whom? And to do what?” This vacuum strengthens Anwar’s position as the known, incumbent leader with a defined agenda.
Signalling strength
Democracy is a selling point. The peaceful rally is good publicity for Malaysia.
Foreign investors crave stability and predictability. Seeing large-scale political dissent managed peacefully demonstrates institutional resilience and adherence to democratic norms.
It signals a country where political risk is managed through dialogue and legal frameworks, not force. Anwar’s government can rightly claim this as evidence of democratic progress under his watch.
By allowing the rally to proceed unimpeded, Anwar demonstrated a commitment to the democratic principles he championed for decades as an opposition figure himself.
This grants his government a crucial layer of legitimacy, silencing critics who might paint him as autocratic. He walked the walk.
The irony is delicious: An opposition rally, intended as a show of force to bring down “PMX”, instead became a showcase for the robustness of the very democratic system he oversees.
It highlighted the opposition’s weaknesses while burnishing the government’s democratic credentials.
The peaceful conduct, enabled by the government’s restraint, becomes a testament to the progress made since the days of heavy-handed repression.
This is not to say Anwar’s government is without its challenges or criticism. Economic pressures, questions of governance, and legitimate policy disagreements remain.
However, the events of July 26 demonstrate that the arena for contesting these issues has fundamentally changed. The rules of engagement are more democratic, more respectful of fundamental rights.
Ball now in Anwar’s court
The final winner of the rally? Undeniably, Anwar. He emerges not weakened, but paradoxically strengthened.
His commitment to democratic tolerance was validated, his opposition’s disarray was exposed, and Malaysia’s image as a maturing democracy received an unexpected boost.
The opposition sought to bring down the prime minister, but instead, they may have inadvertently cemented his position as the steward of a new, more open Malaysia.
The true test now is whether Anwar can leverage this democratic capital to deliver tangible results for the nation, proving that tolerance and effective governance can indeed go hand in hand.
The ball is firmly in his court, but the opposition has, for now, handed him an unexpected advantage wrapped in the banner of protest.
One should never ignore diplomacy as the true weapon of settling disputes and political scores. - Mkini
AHMAD IBRAHIM is a professor at UCSI University and associate fellow of Universiti Malaya.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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