Utusan brands Anwar an anarchist
(TMI) – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was today labelled an anarchist by Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia, allegedly for opposing the rule of law as seen in spurring street demonstrations to pave his way to Putrajaya instead of through the ballot box.
In its Op-Ed piece headlined “Jalur anarki anutan fahaman pasca-modernisme [Anarchism a conviction of post-modernism], the broadsheet painted the opposition leader as an anti-establishment figure who rejects authority, whether it is the authority of the existing government or religious authority, in order to achieve his personal dream of grasping federal power, posing a danger to the country’s future.
“The anarchism in Anwar (picture) has long been there. It will surface when his personal political ambitions are not reached.
“With his oratory talent, he will be a great storyteller and spark deep hatred towards the ruling government,” the Malay broadsheet said.
According to Utusan, Anwar had been anti-establishment since his student days when he chose to oppose university rules, and public demonstrations have also been his style, linking the opposition Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) recent series of “Blackout 505” rallies nationwide that have drawn thousands of people to protest the results of the 13th general election.
It noted Anwar has been growing “more extreme” after the landmark Election 2008, when the PKR leader made his return to active politics and joined up with PAS and the DAP to form the PR opposition pact.
“Before GE13, his anarchistic attitude was more pronounced.
“He was very confident in winning and kicked off the Ini Kalilah [This time-lah] and Ubah [Change] campaign to raise an awareness among the Chinese in the cities to leave the MCA and Gerakan because Lim Kit Siang will soon be installed as the deputy prime minister,” it said, alluding to Anwar’s alleged promises in the run-up to the May 5 polls.
Election 2013 saw the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) returned to power with 133 federal seats to PR’s 89 seats despite losing the popular vote by scoring just 48 per cent to PR’s 51 per cent.
PR leaders have maintained that Election 2013 was fraught with irregularities, starting from the use of an indelible ink that was not indelible to discrepancies in the voter roll and outright cheating on polling day itself through the alleged use of phantom voters and electricity blackouts.
Utusan has been carrying daily reports, citing known right-wingers and those with hardline religious views against Anwar and PR in the wake of the divisive May 5 polls, portraying them as being opposed to even the basic structure of order — the family unit.
On May 21, the National Fatwa Council reiterated a “fatwa” declaring demonstrations and rallies to topple the government through violence as “haram” (forbidden), becoming the latest Islamic body to comment on the issue.
The religious edict came after Muslims nationwide were told in an official Friday sermon earlier this month that it is “haram” to rebel and fight against the nation’s leaders, including by protesting their decisions through “illegitimate channels”.
It warned that “demonstrations without permission” were Anwar’s choice and his style to “teach” today’s youth to disrespect the law.
“It is a wrong message towards the youth and the country’s future,” it said.
