Anwar Ibrahim 
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Dummipedia, the simplified free online encyclopedia
Anwar bin Ibrahim (born 1947) is a Malaysian politician, a former Deputy Prime Minister (1993 - 1998) and presently, the Opposition leader in Parliament. Early in his career, he became a protégé of then Prime Minister, Mahathir bin Mohamad, but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of his administration. Anwar is the only Malaysian to ever make it into Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.[1]
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| Yang Berhormat Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim | |
Member of Parliament
for Permatang Pauh | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1982 – 1999 August 28, 2008 – present | |
| Preceded by | Zabidi Ali (1st) Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (2nd) |
| Succeeded by | Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (1st) |
| Majority | 15,671 |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office August 28, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Dato' Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail |
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| In office December 1, 1993 – September 2, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Tun Ghafar Baba |
| Succeeded by | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi |
| Born | August 10, 1947 (aged 62) Cherok Tok Kun, Penang |
| Political party |  People's Justice Party - Pakatan Rakyat
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| Occupation |  Member of Parliament
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| Religion | Islam |
| Spouse | Dato' Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail |
| Anwar Ibrahim: Ketuanan Rakyat Malaysia (Video credit: mediarakyat) |
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2. Born in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Anwar was educated at the University of Malaya (1968 - 1971), where he read Malay Studies. As a student, he was the President of National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students (PKPIM), as well as the President of the Malaysian Youth Council. Anwar was also one of the founding member of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) which was founded in 1971. In 1974, he was imprisoned for 20 months under the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial, for his role in the student protests against rural poverty and hunger.
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3. In 1982, Anwar joined the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). He moved up the political ranks quickly and in 1993, became Mahathir's Deputy Prime Minister after winning the Deputy Presidency of UMNO. Towards the end of the 1990s, however, Anwar's relationship with Mahathir had begun to deteriorate, triggered by their conflicting views on governance. He was ousted from the party and from Malaysian politics in September 1998 in the midst of the Asian Financial Crisis.
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4. In April 1999, Anwar was sentenced in a highly controversial trial to six years' imprisonment for corruption and in 2000, to another nine years for alleged homosexual acts. Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch expressed doubts about the fairness of the trials.[1] In a speech during the proceedings, Anwar told the court what he believed to be the underlying motive behind his persecution: "I objected to the use of massive public funds to rescue the failed businesses of his (Mahathir's) children and cronies." Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Ismail, formed the National Justice Party (later known as the People's Justice Party) that very month of April, basing its platform on campaigning for Anwar's release and reformasi.
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5. Anwar lost his final appeal against the corruption conviction in the Federal Court in 2002. In September 2004, the Federal Court reversed Anwar's sodomy conviction and he was released. Under Malaysian law, a person is banned from political activities for five years after the end of his sentence and thus relegated Anwar to the sidelines of Malaysian politics until April 14, 2008. In July 2008, Anwar's wife vacated her Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat to force a by-election in which Anwar himself would contest.[1] That very month itself, Anwar was again arrested over allegations of sodomy. Nevertheless, he won a landslide victory in the by-election and on August 28, took the oath as Member of Parliament and was formally declared the leader of the three-party opposition alliance. more... at Wikipedia
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