Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews/Agencies) Hishamuddin Hussein, leader of the youth wing of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and Malaysia's ruling party, called Ibrahim Anwar a "traitor". The statement came during the party's annual congress. Mr Hussein did not explicitly name the former deputy prime minister but his words left no doubts as to whom they were directed.
"UMNO Youth will never allow traitors to return to the party's fold," Mr Hussein said. "Let us not forget that this traitor once destroyed our unity, smeared the country's image and destroyed the economy with violent street protests," he added.
In 1998, then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad fired his deputy Anwar in a power struggle. Mr Anwar was eventually convicted on corruption and sodomy charges and sentenced to six and nine years respectively. Mr Anwar always denied the accusations.
As a result of the conviction Mr Anwar was expelled from UMNO but, with his wife's help, he founded the National Justice Party (KEADILAN) joining UMNO'S opposition.
After six years in jail, Malaysia's highest court overturned Mr Anwar's sodomy conviction on September 2 and ordered his release.
Most delegates at the UMNO congress cheered Mr Hussein's speech but most party leaders were less than happy to see the Anwar affaire raised at this time out of fear that it might create tensions.
This year's congress is the first to be held under the leadership of new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who, earlier this month, said Mr Anwar was not welcome back into the party.
Never the less, according to some analysts, the former deputy prime minister still has supporters within the ruling party. One delegate is in fact quoted as saying that "although he made many mistakes, he also initiated a lot of reforms in the party."
Mr Anwar is at present hospitalised at the Alpha Klinik in Munich, Germany, where his recovering from a spine operation.
He has already ruled out going back to the UMNO and has pledged to work with the opposition on promoting reforms.
Anwar's political comeback remains a source of discussion. Under Malaysian law, people convicted on corruption charges cannot participate in active political life for five years after their release. This would mean that Mr Anwar is ineligible till the end of 2008.
The United Malays National Organization has ruled Malaysia ever since the country became independent from the United Kingdom in 1957. (MA)
