Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia's former deputy prime Minister, Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, born in 1947 is one of the most controversial figure in Malaysian politics. He rose to prominence under Tun Dr Mahathir's administration which many regarded him as his protégé. Anwar Ibrahim would eventually grow out of that shell and become one of his nemesis, constantly becoming a thorn in his flesh, until Dr Mahathir eventually sacked him and charged him.
He has been through as high as nearly becoming the successor to the Prime Minister and as low as a convict for corruption and sexual misconduct which was eventually reversed. Anwar has been listed as Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world and is now the leader one of the opposition parties of Malaysia, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Born in Cherok Tok Kun in Penang to Ibrahim Abdul Rahman and Che Yan, Anwar Ibrahim took Malay Studies in the University of Malaya. He obtained his earlier education through the Malay College in Kuala Kangsar and held the President of the Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM) from 1968 to 1971. Anwar Ibrahim was also the President of the Malaysian Youth Council (Majlis Belia Malaysia) and was arrested without trial under the Internal Security Act when he protested against hunger and poverty.
During his time at PKPIM, he was a popular figure for being one of the most prominent leaders during his time. He then joined Umno in 1982 and by 1983 took up the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports position. One year later Anwar Ibrahim took the Agriculture portfolio before becoming the minister of Education 2 years later.
During his term as the Minister of Education, which many believed that based on past records, who eventually rise up the ranks as the Deputy Prime Minister, he made some policy changes which included changing the name Bahasa Malaysia to Bahasa Melayu, a move not favoured by many especially from the non-malays.
Anwar Ibrahim became the Finance Minister in 1991 and 2 years after that becomes the Deputy Prime Minister. in the next few years, speculations were brewing that he would eventually take over as the Prime Minister where many have often referred them as ‘son-father' relationship. This would eventually lead to Anwar being appointed by Dr M as the Acting Prime Minister while he took a 2 months break from office. Subsequently, that has led to a rise in power that eventually could have been his downfall.
Anwar Ibrahim attacked Umno for promoting nepotism and cronyism and those associated with them and this would have triggered his very own attempts to disintegrate the many efforts put up by Dr Mahathir which was more or less very protectionistic.
According to Anwar, Cronyism was the major cause of corruption and misappropriation of funds in the country. His views on this eventually caused a separation between himself and the party and would eventually cause his expulsion and accusations.
The financial crisis in 1997 saw his capacity as Finance Minister taking actions that were not very much welcomed by the then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir who eventually took over the portfolio after sacking Anwar from his office and all positions and then he was charged with corruption and sexual misconduct.
Anwar Ibrahim, in his usual self did not back down, denied all allegations and started his ˜reformasi' campaign, one held strongly and actively participated by his supporters spearheaded by his wife Dr Wan Azizah. She would eventually start the political party known as Keadilan, which she would be the sole voice of the party in Parliament Malaysia today. The party then grew stronger until Anwar's acquittal where all the charges were reversed and he took over the party leadership.
The recent general elections saw his party grew with a coalition with other opposition parties DAP and PAS to form the Pakatan Rakyat. pakatan Rakyat now collectively govern 5 states in Malaysia with a louder voice in Parliament. Anwar Ibrahim is now eligible to run for public office after his banned term ended in April 2008.