Ups and downs in Anwar Ibrahim's political career

Mr Anwar (centre) greeting supporters on Nomination Day for the Port Dickson by-election. His Oct 13, 2018 victory marked his official return to politics.
Mr Anwar (centre) greeting supporters on Nomination Day for the Port Dickson by-election. His Oct 13, 2018 victory marked his official return to politics. ST FILE PHOTO
Mr Anwar (centre) greeting supporters on Nomination Day for the Port Dickson by-election. His Oct 13, 2018 victory marked his official return to politics.
Mr Anwar being protected by supporters as police arrest him on Sept 20, 1998. PHOTOS: TIME, SIN CHEW DAILY

1974: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, then an Islamic youth leader, is detained for leading an anti-government protest. He spends 20 months in jail.

1982: He shocks supporters by joining Umno at the invitation of Prime Minister and Umno president Mahathir Mohamad.

1983: Becomes Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, the start of his meteoric rise up the ranks.

1991: Made Minister of Finance.

1993: Promoted to Deputy Prime Minister.

Sept 2, 1998: Sacked from Cabinet posts and later expelled from Umno.

Sept 20, 1998: Tens of thousands of his supporters take to the streets, calling for Tun Dr Mahathir to resign. Mr Anwar is arrested at home.

Sept 29, 1998: Appears in court with a black eye after being beaten by police chief Abdul Rahim Noor. Pleads not guilty to charges of corruption and sodomy, which he says were politically motivated.

April 1999: Sentenced to six years' jail for corruption. His supporters form Parti Keadilan Nasional.

Aug 2000: Sentenced to nine years' jail for sodomy.

Sept 2004: Released after the Federal Court acquits him of the sodomy charge. But his corruption conviction means he is banned from politics for five years.

March 2008: Malaysia's opposition wins five states in the general election and denies Barisan Nasional (BN) its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

June 2008: Former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan lodges police report claiming Mr Anwar had sodomised him.

Aug 2008: Wins Permatang Pauh by-election after his wife vacates the seat for him to contest. Returns to Parliament as leader of the opposition.

Jan 2012: High Court acquits Mr Anwar of second sodomy charge.

May 2013: Leads Pakatan Rakyat to win 51 per cent of the popular vote in the election. But BN wins more parliamentary seats and retains control.

Right: On the cover of Time magazine in 1997. Far right: Mr Anwar being protected by supporters as police arrest him on Sept 20, 1998.
On the cover of Time magazine in 1997. PHOTO: TIME

March 2014: Court of Appeal overturns High Court ruling, sentences Mr Anwar to five years in jail for sodomy.

Feb 2015: Federal Court upholds conviction.

Sept 2016: Mr Anwar and Dr Mahathir meet for the first time since 1998 and mend ties.

July 2017: Mr Anwar is named de facto leader of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, with Dr Mahathir as chairman.

May 2018: PH wins the general election. King grants Mr Anwar full pardon. He is released from prison.

Oct 2018: Wins Port Dickson by-election, marking his official return to politics. Waits for Prime Minister Mahathir to hand over post as agreed by PH parties.

Feb 2020: PH government collapses. Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin Yassin becomes prime minister.

Sept 2020: Mr Anwar announces he has secured a "formidable" majority to form a new government.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on September 27, 2020, with the headline Ups and downs in Anwar Ibrahim's political career. Subscribe