The opposition Malaysian Justice Party, led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, held its annual conference in a private school hall in the city of Seremban on the 25th-27th of May.
Party insiders said that, unlike previous years when the Congress was held at five star hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, this year none of the bigger hotels in Seremban were willing to host the Malaysian Justice Party’s Congress, presumably for fear of offending the ruling National Front Government.
Conspicuously absent compared to previous congresses , were the hundreds of fluorescent, light blue and white party flags and banners which are normally strung up in the roads leading to the congress venue.
According to party sources, the party flags and banners which were put up were removed by the National Front controlled town council officials because permits to fly the party flags and banners were not obtained.
Nevertheless, the congress proceeded in jubilant mood with over 1,500 delegates attending, together with guests from foreign embassies in Kuala Lumpur and the international media.
Most striking was the courage and idealism of the younger delegates, the Malays in particular, who are determined to create a vibrant democracy, free of today’s endemic corruption and one which is inclusive of all races and religions in ethnically diverse Malaysia.
Anwar Ibrahim, too, was in ebullient form and by his fiery eloquence demostrated his ability to inspire and rally the party faithtful in a manner which must cause Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi sleepless nights given the looming general election.
