The wild ride of Anwar Ibrahim

(Al Jazeera) – “They are in a state of denial. They refuse to acknowledge endemic corruption [and] the racist agenda is continuing. Prison was no bed of roses, but it has given [me] time to reflect, meditate and be more passionate on the issue of freedom, justice and humanitarian ideas.” 

Anwar Ibrahim has had only three hours sleep.

In the past 12 days, Malaysia’s opposition leader had criss-crossed the entire country, stumping for his coalition’s candidates and driving home its message of change.

The punishing schedule has left his campaign bus in the mechanic’s workshop, but with the election just days away, Anwar is still full of energy.

“It’s a job for crazy people,” 65-year-old Anwar chuckled on Wednesday. “It’s not for the sane.”

A little later, Anwar leaves his comfortable home, in an area of Kuala Lumpur known more for its scruffy wooden houses and pot-holed streets than its fancy villas, and headed west.

The four-car convoy is running behind schedule. It’s no journey for the speed-shy or faint of heart.

A sizeable crowd is waiting on the muddy field where Anwar is due to speak. He’s swallowed up by an enthusiastic group of supporters almost as soon as he leaves the car.

They chant “ubah”, the Malay word for change, and “reformasi”, reform; the clarion cries of the opposition.

With the campaign in its final stages, Anwar’s three-party alliance, Pakatan Rakyat, can sense that power may finally be almost within its grasp.

“No power on earth can stop the power of the people,” he thundered.