She fuelled me through dark times, Anwar says at biopic premiere
KUALA LUMPUR: It was the premiere of a movie about a man and his political battles, but the protagonist made sure to pay tribute to his wife.
“The love and strength of a wife and mother fuel the torch of struggle,” Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in a Facebook post yesterday, along with a photo of him kissing Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on the head while they were seated inside the cinema.
The post led to various responses, with many commentators wishing them well and praising Dr Wan Azizah for her strength.
The couple had attended the screening of Anwar: The Untold Story at Dadi Cinema, Pavilion KL, on Monday night.
During the event, Anwar said his wife and their children went through a lot during the dark days of his imprisonment.
Through thick and thin: Anwar giving his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail a kiss inside the cinema. — Photo sourced from Anwar’s FB
He also said that watching the biopic reminded him of the advice his wife gave him when he was slandered with nasty claims – that is, to control his emotions in front of others.
Anwar recalled that during his incarceration, he only shed tears once – when his mother died in April 2001.
“I am only human. As shown in the film, my wife said that we have to control (our emotions) and not show our sadness to the people.
“All the time I was suffering in prison, I only cried once, which was when my mother passed away. I really couldn’t control it. At other times, I had to smile through my tears,” he said.
He elaborated on his experience in the Bukit Aman lockup, saying that the film’s depiction of the lockup was more subdued than the actual cell he was held in.
“The lockup I was held in did not have a sink. It was dark all the time. The purpose was to torture (prisoners),” he said.
Still, he said he felt very touched after watching the movie, which will be screened in cinemas nationwide starting May 18.
Reel life: Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah attending the premiere of ‘Anwar: The Untold Story’ at Dadi Cinema, Pavilion KL. The film will be screened in cinemas nationwide starting May 18. — Bernama
Anwar was sentenced to jail in 1999 after being charged with abuse of power. Four years after his release, he was accused of sodomising an aide in 2008.
He was imprisoned for sodomy in 2015 and released on May 16, 2018, upon receiving a royal pardon.
The film documents Anwar’s journey to battle corruption. It charts the period from when he was first appointed as Finance Minister in 1991 until his sacking from the Cabinet in 1998 and the “Reformasi” campaign, which led to his imprisonment later that year.
“It is difficult for me to comment much as I have tried very hard to forget certain episodes which were too hurtful for me to bear,” he told reporters.
He also said that although the film’s overall dialogue was not wholly accurate, the issues it raised were based on true events.
Despite going through so much, he made it clear during the media conference that he would not let the hardship stop him from campaigning for what’s right.
“The battle against corruption continues. As Prime Minister, I want to save this country, fight against corruption and fight it hard,” he said.
