Even since the release of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim from jail, there has been a lot of speculation on his political leanings, both by the government and the opposition. He also seems to be a beacon for the majority of decent people who want a corrupt-free government

Nobody can deny the fact that this man is an enigma, a good orator with nerves of steel after his six years in the slammer as a result of abiding by his principles. His release has caused a lot of his enemies sleepless nights as he was a privy to a lot of hanky-panky when he was with the government and Umno.

Anwar, in his younger days was known to be a streetwise political fighter who fought for the rights of the downtrodden and the poor. But one cannot help but see that he became pro-government when he joined Umno.

The culture of 'bodek membodek, tikam menikam' among friends and foes alike has been ingrained in him as he moved up the political ladder to become the heir apparent, just a whisker away from the throne before his fallout with Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998.

One cannot help to notice that when Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had a fallout with the former prime minister in 1986, a lot of Umno leaders followed him out of the party but not ordinary members.

In Anwar's case however, a lot of Umno grassroots supporters followed him while Umno bigwigs whom he groomed like Zahid Hamidi, Ibrahim Saad abandoned him in his hour of need. As the dictum goes: 'There are no permanent friends or enemies in politics, only permanent interests.'

Remember the fate of Tun Salleh Abbas during the judicial crisis of 1988? If my memory serves me right, Anwar was one of those at the forefront in the effort to remove Saleh from office. The judiciary has yet to recover its independence till today and during his own court trials, Anwar hurled accusations at the judges that they were under the thumbs of the executive.

To be a good orator is one thing, to be a good leader with vision is another. I recall that when Anwar was the Finance Minister, Bank Negara recorded an enormous loss in foreign currency trading. Anwar, as head of the ministry, should have been held responsible but this was not the case.

The list can go on and on but let history judge the man as surely as history will judge Mahathir on his 22 years in office.

I am neither pro-government or pro-opposition but I believe that the Barisan Nasional is still the best choice to rule this country as the opposition parties - with their different ideologies and backgrounds - can't seem to come together.

I am sure Pak Lah knows the sentiment of the public at large. They want the BN and government to reform and get rid of old and tainted members who should have stepped down together with the former premier last year.

But as the adage goes 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. Those who have tasted power, will not want to lose it as the last Umno polls has shown.

Old and dirty politicians have made a comeback to the party's supreme council seats and the old habit of giving out juicy contracts to cronies will be further ingrained in Umno's culture.