A State of Denial.(World Affairs)(Anwar Ibrahim)(Interview)

Byline: Jonathan Kent

Anwar speaks out against his charges and Malaysia's teetering government.

It's been a tumultuous year in Malaysia. In March, Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister jailed 10 years ago on suspected corruption and sodomy charges, led the opposition to a surprisingly strong showing in parliamentary elections. Since then, he's been steadily working to fracture and bring down the ruling coalition by luring away minor parties. Late last month his plan seemed to go off the rails once more, when new sodomy charges were brought against him by a former volunteer in his office. Then last week embattled Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi--widely blamed for the government's sagging fortunes--announced that he'd hand over power in mid-2010 to a deputy, Najib Razak, who's been linked to the murder of a Mongolian model. Najib has denied the allegations. Anwar spoke by telephone with NEWSWEEK's Jonathan Kent about the charges against him and Malaysia's chaotic politics. Excerpts:

KENT: What do you make of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's plans to yield power in two years?

ANWAR: Umno [Abdullah's party] remains in a state of denial as to the credibility of its leadership. Having lost the popular vote in [West] Malaysia, the party had yet to come to terms with the loss of its hegemony. UMNO leaders are far more concerned with protecting their own parochial interests while the nation continues to suffer from their failed economic and social policies. This has given rank-and-file UMNO members ample reason to throw their support to the opposition.

The government has again made allegations of sexual misconduct against you. What is your response?

It's disgusting of them to repeat this, but there is a difference from last time. [Now] I don't cast aspersions on the entire government machinery or on the prime minister. I've no evidence to link him to fabricating evidence, but [Najib's] office appears to be involved. I also have evidence on the fabrication and suppression of evidence in my 1999 trial involving the current inspector general of police and the attorney general.