COMMENT His critics call him a false messiah and a charlatan but his supporters herald him as the hope of this nation. So it is ironic that the road which leads to the Sungai Buloh prison is called Jalan Harapan.

Once again, the fortified prison gates opened this evening to 'welcome' its most famous inmate, one that has rattled the powers-that-be for a decade-and-a-half.

In the past, Anwar Ibrahim spent five years languishing behind its walls from which he continued to pose a threat to the ruling elite. It was here that the idea for PKR was conceived.

So while concrete and steel could contain his physical existence, they however failed to incarcerate his spirit and mind.

Imprisoning him would not halt the momentum which he triggered following his sacking in 1998.

He dismissal from the government made the biggest crack in the fortress called BN, and he demolished the myth that the ruling coalition was indestructible.

As his lead counsel Gopal Sri Ram argued, this man made immense contributions to the democratisation of this nation.

Rekindle embers, ignite anger

It was because of him that the prime ministers who came after Dr Mahathir Mohamad were forced to dance to a different tune and add new words to their vocabulary such as 'moderation' and 'transformation'.

If not for Anwar, the likes of DAP and PAS would never have been able to reap the resulting electoral spoils, which now some claim have inflated their egos to the point of imploding.

For his diehard supporters, the candle of hope lit by Anwar cannot be extinguished even if he is put behind bars.

On the contrary, his current sentence could prove to be catastrophic for BN given the widespread perception that the judges were executing the bidding of their political masters.

In recent years, Malaysians have been suffering from political fatigue, especially with the opposition displaying traits similar to that of their rivals.

But the decision to imprison a 67-year-old grandfather could rekindle embers and ignite anger.
 
Thorn in the flesh

Anwar is synonymous with the word tenacious, a fact that even his opponents admit to, albeit while gritting their teeth.

Many an opportunity had arose for him to flee this predicament and seek asylum abroad.

But he chose to remain on Malaysian soil. Such is the nature of the man, who since his days as a student leader, has been a fighter right down to the bone.

Even after his dismissal as deputy prime minister, Anwar wasted little if no time wallowing in sorrow but took to the streets in protest.

Since then, he has been a thorn in the flesh for all those who wish to retain their grip on the reins of power.

During Anwar's final stop on his nationwide road show last night, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu paid homage to this boldness.

In for a surprise

Acknowledging that the opposition leader was not perfect, Mohamad Sabu pointed out that his courage was undeniable.

The PAS stalwart admitted that if it had been him in the latter's shoes, he might have opted to seek refuge in a foreign country instead of having to undergo the suffering of prison.

And so for those who believe that the sun has set on the opposition leader, they might still be in for a surprise. In or out of a cage, a tiger is still a tiger.

To quote Anwar's scathing speech from the dock this afternoon: "I have fought most of my life [...] My struggle will continue, wherever I am sent and whatever is done to me."


RK ANAND is a member of the Malaysiakini team.