Today marks the end of political barring period for Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. As I can recall, many things have changed since he was barred from joining the politic actively in 1998 due to his trials result. It has been almost 10 years I guess.

I remember back in 1998 that the whole nation was shocked when Dr. Mahathir sacked his wingman and put him behind the bars on ridiculous allegations. Everybody knew at that time the police and the judiciary were under his control. I think practically until today these two bodies are under the executive influence regardless how independent they claim they are.

I was young at that time. I was 18 and I was in college. My college was buzzed with the words ‘Reformasi’ literally. Anwar retaliated against Dr. Mahathir by launching a street campaign calling for reformation of the country’s leadership. Malaysia was shocked with this political earthquake. Thousands of people brought the confusion and restlessness to the street. Anwar was treated like a pariah in UMNO. A good number of his friends in UMNO did not back him up. Instead, support and help came from the most unexpected people like the late Datuk Fadzil Noor, the President of PAS. He was Anwar’s friend back in ABIM early days and I guess they were still friends after all. A few years later the late Datuk Fadzil Noor died fighting for DSAI’s cause. Of course at that time many ministers, unlike today, were gathered behind the Old Man of Malaysia and joined the bandwagon of cursing and accusing Anwar of giving bad name to UMNO. Ah, Malaysia lame politic tactic. Everyone wants to secure his rice pot first before everyone else.

I did go to Anwar’s house with a bunch of friends before they planned to march to Stadium Nasional in Bukit Jalil during the launching of SUKOM 1998. The house was crowded with so many supporters from all walks of life. Everybody chanted the magic word, ‘Reformasi’. Do they really understand that word? I have no clue. A friend cautioned me not to be too excited shouting Reformasi. He said some of the shouters could be police personnel from Special Branch and they were probably watching for the hardcore supporters of Anwar. That was the first time I heard about our police intelligence. I tell y’all - they are very good! A few years later I got served by ‘surat tunjuk sebab’ due to the report from Special Branch sent to Dato Ghazali (now Tan Sri), our Malaysian Ambassador to US, allegedly accused me of joining the opposition activities in UK. Never mind about that. I’ll write about it at some other time.

People on the streets in Malaysia were talking about how Anwar fought back. Not too long after that he was put in jail under ISA. The judge during his trial constantly uttered this word – ‘Irrelevant’. I wonder what the hell is irrelevant with this case. By right, they should toss the case in the dustbin because it has too many irregularities.

His wife, Aunty Azizah, and his friends formed Parti Keadilan to fight for his cause. My dad, a police personnel in PDRM HQ of Bukit Aman, knew about how Anwar got a black eye during his detention in Bukit Aman. Everyone knew about it but could do nothing. Papa also told us that despite his pain and ache, Anwar Ibrahim borrowed a Quran to read from one of the corporals who guarded his prison cell.

I literally shed a tear when I read an article written about DSAI and his family’s misery in TIME magazine not too long after that incident. Yes, I was passionate about this man and I still am.

Being a college student in America taught me to be idealist. I want to change the world after I graduate from Penn State. At least, that’s what I thought I would do. I was anti establishment. I despised Mahathir. I guess all my friends in college knew that I was anti Mahathir. I turned down invitation from Malaysian Student Department to attend student functions with Dr. Mahathir in Chicago and New York during his visit to US. Never once I came to Tun’s function for the period of 5 years of my stay in the States.

Although I was in my college age, I had an opportunity to connect Malaysian community with some opposition politicians. I fixed a teleconference between US and Malaysia with Datin Seri Wan Azizah. That’s how I came to be friend with Nurul Izzah. At that time, telephone was the only means to contact them directly.

A few months later I began to write letters to DSAI while he spent his days in Sg Buloh prison. I wrote about justice, governance, reformasi and equality. I questioned his political move when he was in UMNO. I questioned his stand on University & College Act (AUKU) 1974 when he was Education Minister in late 80s. I even wrote to him that he will lose my vote if he were to join UMNO back after this.

He wrote back to me. I was hysterical! Ex deputy Prime Minister wrote replies to my letters. Oh my God!

In 2006, he won a RM 4.5 million lawsuit against a writer of the book 50 Dalil Kenapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi PM. The writer died soon after that. Then my friend formally introduced me to him in the court. He said that he remembered me - the one who wrote to him from US and asked him difficult questions. I was touched by his humility and his humor.

But between 2004 till 2008, my political belief has changed. My devotion is no longer on him per se. I didn’t feel like conquering the world anymore. Yes, some parts of the idealist have died in me. I have become to realize that Anwar Ibrahim can come and go at anytime. His physical is so fragile and so is everyone else. It’s like what Pak Abu Urwah (Hj Saari Sungib, the present ADUN Hulu Kelang) told me that Anwar Ibrahim is just a social icon to inspire people for hope, justice and fairness in the country’s administration because he was a part of the leadership before September 1998. What I am counting on DSAI is his spirit and his zest for the ideals. That’s matter to me.

I share my vision with Anwar Ibrahim. I wish to see one day this country will come to realization that there is no difference between a Malay, a Chinese, an Indian and the rest of the world. We are humans bestowed with faculties of thoughts and emotion, striving to coexist in this little planet called Earth. I wish to see that Malaysian will come as one - a single entity in variation of creeds and ethnicity. We represent the mankind. We empower and compliment each other with our differences and yet we allow ourselves to be different in our meaning and philosophy. Our plural society is our asset, not liability. His Majesty Dr. Raja Nazrin does recognize this powerful aspect of our society and encourages us to use this to its fullest potential in order to push this country forward. We must go forward and become progressive. Acceptance of our past is a must. Social contract of 1957 must be renewed. Embracing acceptance must be practiced to its highest degree.

From now on, let us start this culture of inclusive and let us live in this country with good conscience and good intention. Together we make this country a strong, an economically powerful, a peaceful and harmony nation.