Anwar on tour to rekindle friendships

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Opposition Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim is on an international tour that's taking him across the region to rekindle old friendships.

Malaysia's former deputy prime minister is now in Indonesia, and plans to visit the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, the Philippines and other nations during the next few weeks, The Straits Times reported.

Anwar, who was released from prison three months ago, will go to Doha later this month to meet a minister of the United Arab Emirates government.

To the discomfort of the Malaysian government, Anwar has been campaigning loudly against corruption and abuse of power in public speeches and media interviews, the newspaper said.

Just last week, he was in South Africa meeting with former President Nelson Mandela and Christian leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu.Those meetings were billed as his way of catching up with old friends after being in jail for six years on charges of corruption and sodomy.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has cautioned foreign leaders against such meetings.