“I want to make sure no one else goes through what I have gone through.”
These were the heartfelt words of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, reflecting on how over a decade in prison became the most transformative period of his life.
He said the time behind bars allowed him to witness the darker side of the justice system, where laws could be manipulated for political purposes and individuals could lose their dignity simply due to social status.
“Once, while I was being escorted by a guard to the car for court, I noticed a young boy with bruised eyes. I greeted the guard and asked, ‘Can I speak to the boy for a moment?’ and the guard replied, ‘Yes, but only briefly, one or two minutes, don’t take too long or the CCTV will see.’
“It turned out the boy had stolen a pair of jeans, spent months in jail, living in poverty without a lawyer. Meanwhile, we all know how the system worked at that time. I learned so much about justice.
“Imagine, this boy stole just a single pair of jeans, yet many elite politicians steal billions and still get promoted—from Datuk Seri to Tan Sri, to Tun. I know as Prime Minister I must be careful with my words, but I am human too. How can we accept this?” he recounted.
Anwar shared this during the In Conversation with Anwar Ibrahim session at the PNB Knowledge Forum 2025 in the capital on Tuesday. He recalled his prison experiences, highlighting the stark inequality between the rich and poor in the justice system.
“Ultimately, these offenders were brought to court, and some magistrates imposed maximum sentences. Yes, they studied law at university, but they never truly learned justice—they only knew the technicalities of law,” he said.
Anwar acknowledged the need for strict punishment for serious crimes, such as rape. However, he noted that in some cases, foreign workers imprisoned for being deceived by agents were often handed maximum sentences.
“I’m not saying we should allow foreign workers to enter without permits, but we must treat humans as humans.
“What did I learn? I’ve spoken about freedom and justice all my life, but in prison, I truly understood empathy—why freedom, fairness, and compassion are so crucial. True justice can only be understood through experience.
“Allah tested me. These trials were not easy—for me, Azizah, my children, and my friends. But now, I am here as Prime Minister. What did I learn? I learned so much.
“What I want to do? I want to do my best with this responsibility. No one else should be treated the way I was treated. May Allah guide us all,” he concluded.
