Anwar Ibrahim wins Port Dickson by-election in triumphant return to Malaysian politics
Anwar’s fortunes have taken a remarkable turn, going from jailed opposition leader to receiving a royal pardon in May – and he is now poised to succeed Mahathir as prime minister
Malaysian democracy icon Anwar Ibrahim is one step closer to assuming the role of prime minister in 2020 after winning the Port Dickson by-election with 31,016 votes, a 23,560-vote majority. He will take his place as a government backbencher in the next parliamentary meeting, which resumes on Monday.
Figures from the Election Commission showed he got more than 71 per cent of the total votes cast.
The Port Dickson by-election was engineered last month when incumbent Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, a member of Anwar’s People’s Justice Party (PKR), stepped down to make way for Anwar’s bid to re-enter active politics.
“I am happy with the results. Allah bless us all,” Anwar said after the victory.
“This to my mind is an important milestone, a vote of confidence for the government and the reform agenda, and the prime minister personally.”
The former deputy prime minister has seen his fortunes take a remarkable upswing, going from jailed opposition leader to receiving a royal pardon in May after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad led Pakatan Harapan to an unprecedented electoral win, deposing former coalition Barisan Nasional after 61 years of rule. Before the general election, the component party heads of Pakatan Harapan had agreed that in 2020 Mahathir would step down to make way for Anwar as premier.
Anwar is, observers say, the only obvious candidate that could succeed Mahathir. However, there is concern that warring factions within Anwar’s own party will cause instability within the new government, as well as the rumoured rivalry between Anwar and his mentor-turned-foe-turned-ally, Mahathir, who sacked Anwar as his deputy during his first round as prime minister from 1981 to 2003.
