Who is Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian PM?

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim jokingly told US President Donald Trump as cameras rolled: “You were in prison but you almost made it there.”

It was a risky prank — one that he quickly abandoned given Trump’s unflattering behavior — but it was also arguably a prank that only a seasoned politician basking in his recent victories would dare pull.

He had just signed an agreement with Trump to reduce tariffs on Malaysian exports to the United States from 24% to 19%. Although many other details remain unclear, any assurance that fees will not rise further is welcome amid all the uncertainty.

But most important of all, Anwar succeeded in securing Trump’s attendance at a regional summit whose importance was repeatedly questioned. The US president was present at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Kuala Lumpur only to preside over the much-publicized “peace agreement” between Thailand and Cambodia, which Anwar coordinated.

He also brokered a fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia after deadly border clashes earlier this year, and intervened after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on both sides if the fighting did not stop.

Some called it a diplomatic victory for Malaysia, while others said Anwar was simply in the right place at the right time – and this year, it is the Malaysian prime minister’s turn to lead ASEAN.

But Anwar said he waited his turn for 25 years, a turbulent period in the wings during which he was imprisoned twice.

Anwar initially made his name as a charismatic student leader who founded the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM).

In 1982, he joined the long-ruling party, United Malays National Organization (UMNO), surprising many who expected him to break away from the establishment.

But it proved to be a shrewd political move, as he quickly climbed the ladder and held several ministerial positions.

In 1993, he became deputy to then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and was widely seen as his likely heir. That was until they disagreed over how to handle the Asian financial crisis in 1997, which hit Malaysia hard.

Anwar was sacked the following year and then imprisoned on charges of sodomy and corruption, charges he denies to this day, claiming they were part of a smear campaign to oust him as a political threat.

In 2004, a year after Mahathir stepped down, Malaysia’s Supreme Court overturned the sodomy conviction and released Anwar. He emerged as the leader of a vibrant opposition, leading it to its strongest performance ever in the 2013 elections.

Less than a year later, as he prepared to run in state elections, new sodomy charges were brought against him. Bring him back to prison.

Then in 2016, in a shocking turn of events, Mahathir came out of retirement to run for the top job, as then-leader Najib Razak faced corruption allegations.

Mahathir, then 92, made an unexpected deal with Anwar, who was still imprisoned, in which he promised to release Anwar if he was elected, and eventually hand him over as prime minister. Their alliance scored a Historic victory in 2018But the alliance begins to unravel as the underage figure continues to shift his goals to hand over power.

In the 2022 elections, Anwar’s coalition He won the largest number of seats But it is still less than the number required to form a government.

After days of stagnation, the king appointed him prime minister.

Some believe his tenure will be short-lived. But nearly three years on, the 78-year-old has been in office longer than his three predecessors.

Perhaps Anwar’s biggest achievement is the political stability he appears to have brought to a country that saw three prime ministers between 2020 and 2021.

“Malaysia these days is sometimes seen as among the most stable countries in Southeast Asia…which has also made it relatively attractive to investors,” says Siyaza Shukri, a professor of political science at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

But the cost of living is rising, as in many other countries. In July, 20,000 demonstrators took to the streets in Kuala Lumpur to demand Anwar’s resignation, citing rising costs and the absence of economic reforms.

Also, expensive investments in semiconductor manufacturing and data centers have not yet paid off. That’s why the tariff deal with the United States was crucial to the export-led economy.

Others accuse his administration of not doing enough to promote a more inclusive Malaysia in the face of rising Islamism. Religious anger sometimes spills over into violence in the Muslim-majority country, which also has a large ethnic Chinese population.

In 2024, a convenience store chain created a sensation for selling socks printed with the word “Allah” – the Arabic word for God – which many Muslims saw as an insult to Islam. The store was attacked with Molotov cocktails as people called for a boycott and the company executives to be charged.

In 2023, a Chinese Muslim restaurant was forced to publicly apologize after it was fired over an employee wearing a cross-shaped necklace.

Asian studies professor James Chen wrote in a commentary published by the Malaysian News Agency, “The compromise solution for Malaysian politics is no longer a tolerant, multiethnic Malaysia, but rather a conservative Malaysia with an Islamic outlook… Anwar’s position on political Islam may move the country into uncharted territory.”

Critics also accuse Anwar of nepotism and question his pledges to fight corruption. In a controversial move, prosecutors dropped 47 corruption charges in 2023 against a key Anwar ally, the deputy prime minister.

At international level, Anwar has been more successful.

As prime minister, he has a deft balancing act to ensure that the emerging economy he is in charge of does not fall between the United States and China.

He also invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to attend the summit. Xi made an official visit to Malaysia last April, after a 12-year break, but did not attend this week’s summit.

But Trump’s presence was not easy for Southeast Asian economies that depend on the American market. This means that other countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam, can also discuss the details and obtain guarantees on tariffs – which they may consider a win for now.

Anwar has been very active on the diplomatic front. During his first year as prime minister, he visited all ASEAN countries, except Myanmar, where a civil war has been raging since the military seized power in 2021.

This crisis has been one of the most daunting challenges ASEAN has faced – while Anwar has been praised for speaking out more on the issue, little has changed on the ground, partly because China has the most influence over the junta.

However, Professor Chen believes Anwar has “moved the needle a bit” in restoring ASEAN’s relevance.

The role he played in the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia also boosted Anwar’s standing, but these diplomatic gains mean little to ordinary Malaysians.

What resonates at home is his advocacy for the Palestinian cause, which has become louder since the start of the Gaza war in 2023.

“Anwar needs to raise the Palestinian flag as high as possible to satisfy public opinion and inoculate himself against attacks from opponents who accuse him of not going further,” says Ariel Tan, Malaysia program coordinator at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

But Anwar also faces a dilemma because he needs to maintain good relations with Washington, Israel’s strongest ally, Ms. Tan says.

“Since Trump’s re-election, he has reduced his criticism of the US role in the conflict. US engagement has become more important, especially regarding the threat of tariffs.”

The question is: Will Anwar be able to balance internal demands with external requirements, and begin to replicate his international success on the local scene?

The answer to this will be decisive for his survival in the next elections, scheduled for 2028.