If the opposition leader is sent to jail, it will be a black mark on Putrajaya’s credibility in the eyes of the world, they said ahead of the highly anticipated court decision that could end the PKR de facto leader’s political career.

But Anwar in jail could also galvanise the coalition and give new and younger leaders the chance to rise and fill the vacuum left by the veteran politician, they added.

Conversely, a freed Anwar would have the headache of trying to resolve the differences between DAP and PAS, whose strained ties were threatening the coalition’s existence, some said, and this would deny younger leaders a chance to develop.

…PR has also grown to become larger than Anwar, and another observer, Dr Oh Ei Sun, said the coalition’s leadership and its support base have largely moved beyond the man, with a new generation of leaders from all three partner parties who could and must learn to shoulder the responsibility of leading the pact.