Prominent Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim
Prominent Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim, who was convicted in 2015 in a case that he said was politically motivated and released with a full pardon from the king in May 2018, lauded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a recent visit to Turkey.
After Mahathir Mohamad’s election in May as Malaysia’s new prime minister, he secured a royal pardon for Anwar and has promised to step aside for his friend-turned-foe-turned-ally to become prime minister. Anwar has said that it had been accepted that he would be the next prime minister after Mahathir steps down, but he wants to ensure a smooth transition.
Anwar spoke exclusively to Emeti Saruhan from Gerçek Hayat magazine.
Muslim world lacks strong leaders
“We [Muslims] do not have good leaders. They do not have the courage to speak up. Just look at the Palestine matter. There are very few [leaders] who raise their voices. The matter that must be evaluated is governing. Before, there was Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz. He was able to accomplish great things in two years and three months because of his character. There should be mutual trust between the people and leaders. Democratic elections should be conducted to ensure this,” Anwar said.
As Turkey heads to the polls in a decisive election on Sunday, the Middle East holds it breath in anticipation of the results that promise to shape the future of the region. The oppressed people of Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Libya, who look to Turkey as a beacon of hope in a region rocked by turmoil and instability, hope that the June 24 presidential and parliamentary elections will tip the balance in favor of the disenfranchised people of the Middle East. Billboards went up across Kuwait, Qatar, Morocco, Algeria, among other countries in the region, showing support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the elections, while millions of social media users in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE prayed for the victory of Erdoğan and the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.Ahmad Toma, former president of Syria’s interim government, said, “June 24 is not only Turkey's election but it's the hope of all the oppressed.”“We’re all Erdoğan”Placards that read, “We’re all Erdoğan” were raised during the events that followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s Jerusalem decision. Abu Ayman, the head of the Syrian Palestinian Delegation, pointed that even “the prospect of the region without Erdoğan would be a very grim landscape.”For the first time in Turkish history, political parties went to elections by forming alliances.Turkey’s ruling AK Party and the MHP formed an alliance (People’s Alliance) while the main opposition CHP, the IYI Party, and the Felicity Party constituted another (Nation Alliance).Video: Turkish President Erdoğan casts his vote in Istanbul‘The people of Iraq stand beside Turkey’ Kurds, Turkmens and Arabs in Iraq, which recently went to the polls in a disputed election, expressed their support for Erdoğan and the People’s Alliance.Ömer Aydoğdu, a leader from Iraq’s Turkmen Front, pointed that for the Iraqi people, the elections carry great importance when it comes to influencing the region’s destiny and foiling global ploys. With the exception of a minority who sympathizes with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror organization or sectarian fanatics, the majority of Iraqis stand beside the Turkish president, says Aydoğdu, who is also a Turkmen from Kirkuk. “Erdoğan was the lead actor that foiled the global ploy being staged during the Sept. 25 elections in northern Iraq.”Six candidates are running for president, while eight political parties are contending in Turkey’s parliamentary elections.In April, Parliament passed a bill calling for early elections on June 24, cementing Turkey’s move from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In an April 2017 referendum, Turkish voters approved the switch.Under the changes, the number of lawmakers in parliament rises from 550 to 600, presidential and parliamentary elections will be held every five years, and presidents can retain ties to their political party. The prime minister post is also abolished.Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has served as president since 2014, and is Turkey's first popularly-elected president. Before that, he served as prime minister from 2003 to 2014.Erdoğan would be Turkey's first leader to rule under the presidential system should he win the election.Turkish polls going on smoothly: Independent observerElection board assures election security in SE TurkeyErdoğan casts his vote for presidential, parliamentary elections
‘Turkey’s election is a source of hope for the region’s oppressed’
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan casted his vote on Sunday in Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections.Erdoğan voted at the Saffet Çebi Middle School in Istanbul's Üsküdar at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time. He was accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdoğan.Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Erdoğan praised the high voter turnout, which according to him had crossed 50 percent."It [turnout] displays how advanced Turkish democracy is and how developed its democratic maturity is."Turkey is experiencing a democratic revolution with this election," he added.Portable ballot boxes go to sickly, elderly voters in Turkey elections for the first timeErdoğan further asserted that, with the new governing system, Turkey will be able to reach the level of contemporary civilizations.The president will follow the elections initially in Istanbul and later arrive in Ankara during later hours to follow rest of the elections.Supporters gathered in front of the polling station he voted at and chanted slogans in support of him.Video: Turkey's elderly, sick cast votes in mobile ballot boxesSix candidates are running for president: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the alliance (People’s Alliance) formed by Turkey’s ruling AK Party and the MHP, Muharrem Ince for CHP, Selahattin Demirtas for HDP, Meral Aksener for the Good (IYI) Party, Temel Karamollaoglu for the Felicity (Saadet) Party, and Dogu Perincek for the Patriotic (Vatan) Party.Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has served as president since 2014, and is Turkey's first popularly-elected president. Before that, he served as prime minister from 2003 to 2014.Erdoğan would be Turkey's first leader to rule under the presidential system should he win the election.Female presidential candidate Akşener votes in Turkey electionsTurkish PM casts vote in electionsTurkey’s main opposition presidential candidate İnce votes in electionsTurkish justice minister says voting continues smoothly415 foreign observers ready for Turkish electionsTurkey goes to polls in presidential, parliamentary elections
Erdoğan casts his vote for presidential, parliamentary elections
In an unprecedented move, “portable ballot boxes” found their way to the homes of the sickly and elderly in Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections being held on Sunday.With the introduction of portable ballot boxes, disabled, sickly and elderly voters were able to cast their votes in the comfort of their homes with the help of officers of the election board. Over17,000 voters registered for services of mobile ballot boxes, after complying with requirements of the Supreme Election Council.The voters had to present a medical report explaining their reason for being unable to come to polling stations.Grateful citizens, who conveyed their previous hardships in elections, thanked officials for the portable ballot box system.Six candidates are running for president: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the alliance (People’s Alliance) formed by Turkey’s ruling AK Party and the MHP, Muharrem Ince for CHP, Selahattin Demirtas for HDP, Meral Aksener for the Good (IYI) Party, Temel Karamollaoglu for the Felicity (Saadet) Party, and Dogu Perinçek for the Patriotic (Vatan) Party.Video: Ballot box brought to sickly voter’s home in TurkeyGaleri: Portable ballot boxes brought to elderly, sickly voters’ homeIn April, Parliament passed a bill calling for early elections on June 24, cementing Turkey’s move from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In an April 2017 referendum, Turkish voters approved the switch.Under the changes, the number of lawmakers in parliament rises from 550 to 600, presidential and parliamentary elections will be held every five years, and presidents can retain ties to their political party. The prime minister post is also abolished.Female presidential candidate Akşener votes in Turkey electionsTurkish PM casts vote in electionsTurkey’s main opposition presidential candidate İnce votes in electionsRecep Tayyip Erdoğan has served as president since 2014, and is Turkey's first popularly-elected president. Before that, he served as prime minister from 2003 to 2014.Erdoğan would be Turkey's first leader to rule under the presidential system should he win the election.
Portable ballot boxes go to sickly, elderly voters in Turkey elections for the first time
Turkish president has an “effective voice”
“Erdoğan is the most vocal leader in the Muslim world. He has courage and represents an important country like Turkey. Turkey is a great country and has a strong economy. People will of course criticize, but I do not doubt Erdoğan’s sincerity. He told me he was doing the best he can. He’s honest. He follows through on his promises,” Anwar added.
Anwar in Turkey to “speak about the truth”
Anwar had been invited by Erdoğan to visit Turkey in 2015, and has been criticized for making his visit prior to Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections held on June 24.
“They say ‘We know why you came.’ I came to speak about the truth. To speak about how I feel. I am someone who spent 10.5 years in prison. I cannot be told to not speak about what I believe in,” Anwar said.