[asia-apec 612] Deputy PM Anwar sacked! (part 1 of 2)

[PAN Asia Pacific]

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From: panap at panap.po.my (PAN Asia Pacific)
Date: 04 Sep 98
Originally To: asia-apec at jca.ax.apc.org


The Star
September 2, 1998

ANWAR SACKED

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance 
Minister at 5.30pm today. 

A three-paragraph statement from the Prime Minister's Department said  the Yang di-Pertuan 
Agong Tuanku Ja'afar had been informed of Anwar's removal. 

But no reason was given for the sacking which ended months of  speculation on Anwar's position 
following reports of a widening rift  between him and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir 
Mohamad. 

No immediate response could be obtained from Anwar, 51. 

Policemen took up positions as Umno members and journalists gathered outside his residence in 
Jalan Damansara yesterday afternoon, hours before the statement was issued. 

By 5.30pm, the road to his house had been sealed and at 7pm, the Prime Minister's letter was 
delivered to Anwar. 

Shortly after, his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was seen driving out alone. 

According to Anwar's supporters, she drove to the Prime Minister's official  residence, 100m away, 
and left before 8pm. 

Five days ago, Anwar had told reporters after meeting his Permatang Pauh supporters in Penang 
that he was not resigning. 

Dr Mahathir had also said on Tuesday after announcing his measures to  regain control of the 
ringgit that Anwar had not resigned but if his deputy gave "a very good reason, I will have to accept 
(it)." 

As a student leader, Anwar was detained in 1974 under the Internal Security Act for two years and 
was internationally known as president of  the Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (Abim). 

Once an outspoken critic of the Government, he was persuaded by Dr Mahathir to join Umno in 
1982. He contested for the Permatang Pauh seat in 1982 and became Umno Youth chief the same 
year. 

That year he was also made Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, marking his 
meteoric rise as a leader, and culminating in his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister on Dec 1, 
1993, to succeed Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba. 

Anwar's dismissal extends to all his other positions held in his capacity as Deputy Prime Minister 
and Finance Minister, including Cabinet committee posts and the National Economic Action 
Council (NEAC) deputy chairmanship. 

His position as Umno deputy president is likely to be discussed by the party's supreme council 
which has brought forward its meeting scheduled for Sept 8 to today. 

Once described as heir apparent to Dr Mahathir, Anwar was seen to be sidelined when Tun Daim 
Zainuddin was appointed NEAC chairman and later Special Functions Minister after the Umno 
General Assembly in June. 

Till press time, tight security was maintained outside Sri Perdana and  Anwar's houses here and in 
Penang and journalists camped overnight outside the places. 

Response to the sacking from other leaders ranged from "no comment" to calls for calm amid 
speculation over who will take over from Anwar. 

Anwar is the third deputy prime minister to have served under Dr Mahathir  who came to power in 
July 1981. In 1986, Tan Sri Musa Hitam resigned  and in 1993, Ghafar stepped down after Anwar 
won the Umno deputy presidency.