There is a Chinese folk-belief that in every litter of tiger cubs there would be the odd leopard cub. The folklore has it that both the striped and spotted felines are siblings from the same parents. Hence we have the famous 'Tiger Balm' Aw brothers being named Boon Haw (Gentle Tiger) and Boon Par (Gentle Leopard).
Thus had been the case with Dr Mohamad Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim, two 'brothers' of Umno, inseparable in political ideology, holding each other in mutually respect and affection, with one being the mentor and the other the heir apparent. Both were undoubtedly ferocious carnivorous big cats in the political jungle.
But the Chinese also have a saying that 'on one mountain there cannot be two tigers'. So when the leopard became a bit impatient and overly aggressive to the tiger, to rule as the new lord of the mountain, he upset his mentor.
Thus, we are told, is the saga of Anwar Ibrahim.
But to me, it's no saga - just an Umno member falling clumsily on his own sword in his quest for power. Political Observer in his letter Can Anwar change? and many other writers before have identified succinctly the true spots of Anwar Ibrahim. The stark fact is that he is neither angel nor reformer, least of all a political messiah.
If Mahathir is viewed adversely under the political microscope, then Anwar Ibrahim must share equally those unfavourable characteristics and comments. If anything, Mahathir is more sincere in that in him is WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). Anwar Ibrahim, on the other hand, is not only a ferocious big cat with very nasty big fangs, but a chameleon as well.
He is the most urbane, suave, cosmopolitan chap when he is in Western society, the darling of Washington and the political centres of Europe. Yet he is also snugly at home with the medieval- oriented Saudis and their extreme brand of Islam.
His masterly oratorical skills are matched only by his amazing ability to continuously reinvent himself.
It must be said that Anwar Ibrahim possesses the greatest political weapon in Malaysia in that he assumes the political Yin position to Mahathir's Yang.
Such has been the dislike of Mahathir, that Anwar has automatically reaped the beneficial fallout by being Mahathir's nemesis. The fact that he was jointly responsible - as Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister - for all the Umno-led government's messiness in the past has been too easily forgotten.
If there is anything one can pin on Anwar Ibrahim, it is that he is a man constantly jumping ship. He deserted Abim to join Umno; he was disloyal to Mahathir when his ambition grew too impatient; then he led a rather violent street protests against his own party Umno.
Now, he doesn't want to assume leadership of Keadilan - a party formed for the sole purpose of defending and releasing him from prison - and lead them to the Reformasi Nirvana. This is because he can't afford to be hobbled by a nothing-party as he readies himself to re-join mighty Umno.
A cruel reality bite for those well-intentioned dreamers in Keadilan will be when they see their man jump ship - again.
In the meanwhile, he self-places himself as the 'elder' statesman of Malaysia, pontificating on domestic, regional and international affairs.
In the end, one must examine carefully that while he and Mahathir share equally the blame for the ills they have wrought, what had been Anwar Ibrahim's actual contribution to the meritorious achievements that Mahathir had gained for Malaysia?
In concluding, if Umno does not re-recruit him as he expects, then watch out for those leopard fangs and claws as he re-screams 'reformasi!'
