Time Anwaristas returned the compliment

COMMENT | About this time in 1982, with then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad gearing up to steer the country along the path of his vision, his task was made easier with Anwar Ibrahim alongside, rather than across the parliamentary aisle as opposition leader.

The conversion of Anwar from presumptive leader of the opposition to Mahathir acolyte was accomplished just before the April 1982 general election, where BN romped home to a landslide victory with Anwar as Umno MP for Permatang Pauh, a seat that PAS had won in the 1978 election.

Had the political chips fallen differently, Anwar would have been an opposition MP, possibly as the top man in Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) upon the retirement of Mohd Asri Muda as its president.

His leadership of Abim had gained him not only national stature but also international recognition; posts in the upper echelons of PAS were there for his asking...