Calling Anwar Ibrahim: Hillary Clinton and the search for moderate Islam

B’nai B’rith’s letter to U.S. policymakers earlier this year cited Anwar’s April 30 assertion that Israeli spies “are directly involved in the running of the government,” and his role in sparking a resurgence of anti-Semitism within Malaysian political speech.  The allegations are easily confirmed; Anwar himself once tweeted that there were “Israeli intelligence personnel in the [Malaysian] Police IT unit.”  The tweet, which was widely reported, has now apparently been deleted — Anwar does not hesitate to use anti-Semitic language when it serves to benefit him, but he does seem picky about who reads it.

Hillary Clinton used her time in Malaysia to strengthen U.S.-Malaysia ties, thus cementing the relationship that President Obama encouraged last month at the ASEAN Summit.  Her last-minute decision to avoid a face-to-face encounter with opposition leader Anwar may have enabled her to avoid the appearance of a direct endorsement, but her statements in support of him are nevertheless a bad sign for those who wish to see the U.S. continue to engage with a moderate Muslim administration.

A visit from the United States Secretary of State would grant individuals — including Anwar — significant status both within and outside of Malaysia.  This status might become very relevant to the Malaysian government in the next election cycle, and the United States must tread carefully for its own sake.  Were Anwar to become prime minister, he and his coalition would render obsolete the very policies the Unites States wishes to encourage in Malaysia.  Anwar’s ascendancy would not bode well for anyone, either in Malaysia or in the United States — and that’s not something the West can afford to risk in a post-9/11 world.

Rachel Motte is a freelance writer, journalist and editor specializing in social issues, educational affairs, and international religious freedom. Her work has appeared at CNN.com, The Evangelical Outpost, The New Ledger, and multiple radio stations nationwide. She is an alumna of Biola University, the Torrey Honors Institute, the Leadership Institute, and the World Journalism Institute.