Wan Azizah, Taking the Reins from her Husband, Anwar Ibrahim (1999)

The Reluctant Reformer (1999): A look back at Wan Azizah, who became a real threat to Malaysia s then-Prime Minister Mahathir while her husband dodged allegations of sexual indiscretion and corruption. Subscribe to Journeyman here: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=journeymanpictures Azizah is a political wife whose ordeal has a familiar ring to it. Like Hillary Clinton, she’s withstood the indignity of the most damaging sexual allegations against her husband, and emerged stronger. This wife and mother has been recruited as a leader for the biggest push for reform in Malaysia’s history. “I wouldn’t think I would be a politician, because my role was the wife, bringing in the tea and looking after the children.” Azizah has become hugely popular. Massive crowds gather at her speeches, and when she hints that she’ll stand in the forthcoming elections they applaud even louder. So is she going to be Prime Minister? No, says her daughter “she is just warming the seat.” Azizah’s political career will be over when Anwar returns. Malaysian society is after all fundamentally patriarchal. Azizah even declines to show us a photo of herself without her headscarf for fear of arousing controversy. But if a jailed Anwar wants revenge over his old boss at the ballot box, it’s Azizah, a reluctant but increasingly popular leader, who’ll have to win the votes. For downloads and more information visit: https://www.journeyman.tv/film/549/the-reluctant-reformer For similar stories, see: Anwar Ibrahim s Meteoric 2008 Rise To Power (2008) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWqolngZjZo Anwar Ibrahim s Battle To Beat His Conviction (1999) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoP9cO3Krs4 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeymanpictures Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JourneymanNews https://twitter.com/JourneymanVOD Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/journeymanpictures ABC Australia – Ref. 0549