By Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew Daily

Anwar Ibrahim revealed a historical scar on Facebook last weekend.

He said he did not accept IMF's rescue plan wholesome during the 1999 regional financial crisis, but agreed to IMF's proposal that Malaysia needed structural changes to boost transparency, accountability and ensure the independence of institutions.

Anwar was the finance minister then, and if you still recall, one of the reasons Mahathir sacked him was that he bowed to the IMF's advice and sank the country into severe recession.

After Anwar's dismissal, Mahathir dumped the IMF solution and tightened the country's monetary policy, fixed the foreign exchange rate and imposed capital control measures.

Some believed Mahathir saved the country's economy.

Today, after all these years, Anwar still begs to differ. He pointed out in the FB post that the crisis was tailing at that time and many countries already began to recover, including those not imposing any form of capital control.

These countries not only restored their economic vibrancy but also introduced the much needed economic reforms under the IMF solution, among them South Korea.

"During that critical period, what did the government do to rectify the underlying structural problems? Hardly anything," he wrote.

By that he was obviously referring to Mahathir.

Which between Anwar's IMF solution and Mahathir's restrictive policy was the better way for Malaysia during the 1999 financial crisis?

No one can give a definite answer. Even economists have very different interpretations. And we won't have an answer even if we keep arguing about this for another 50 years!

But the thing is, why did Anwar now suddenly bring up this matter to defend his policy in denial of Mahathir's?

Anyone with the slightest idea can tell this is a political issue, not economic.

The following day, Anwar wrote again, saying he agreed to reinvestigate the 1992-94 forex scandal that drained RM30 billion from the national coffers.

Najib was the first to propose reinvestigating the scandal, and Anwar's response was mainly to exclude himself from any involvement in this whole thing. Outsiders have never once linked Anwar to the scandal but focused principally on then prime minister Mahathir.

One thing for sure, the relationship between Anwar and Mahathir is definitely not sweet at this moment.

There were several solutions said to have been achieved after last week's PH++ meeting:

1. Mahathir will be PM, Anwar his deputy. Mahathir will pass on the baton to Anwar after half a year.

2. Anwar becomes PM, Mahathir is minister mentor, and Mukhriz DPM.

3. The PM seat will go to someone from Sabah or Sarawak.

The last solution is the first to be struck off; and between the first two is a huge gap that is almost impossible to close.

Getting Anwar to accept Mahathir as PM again is running against a historical lesson.

Mahathir has never been known as someone who can keep a promise.

As for the second solution, letting Anwar become PM does not seem to go well with Mahathir's lifelong philosophy.

Mahathir always thinks of himself as a king. Never a moment is he, or is prepared to be, a kingmaker. Less so for Anwar!

He wants to create history as his political career tapers towards the end, to become PM once again!

As for mentor minister, that couldn't have been a bigger insult to the old man.