The rejection of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's appeal against a five-year prison sentence for sodomy was expected, as was the widespread criticism from Western governments over judicial independence, the rule of law, political persecution and human rights. For the 17 years since he was sacked as deputy prime minister and made it his mission to unseat the government, he has been fighting legal challenges over his conduct and propriety, for which he had already been in prison twice. Even as he goes to jail again and despite his being 67 and having lost his parliamentary seat, it cannot be said for sure whether his political career is over; to his supporters, he is a martyr. There are certainties, though, for the opposition and Prime Minister Najib Razak's government.

Anwar represents the biggest threat to Najib's ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation, the dominant partner in the National Front coalition. His political savvy led to the loss of its two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time in half a century in elections in 2008 and its dominance was further eroded in the 2013 polls with it losing the popular vote, although not power. The next vote has to be called by 2018, but circumstances are different; Anwar will be in jail and the three-party Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance is riven by infighting.

Malaysia needs a viable opposition voice and the differences have to be overcome so that it can provide a check and balance to the government. Najib and his colleagues need it: The criticism of the Anwar trial is the least of their problems. They have to deal with plunging oil prices (the nation is a significant exporter), a new sovereign wealth fund's huge debts, corruption allegations, three air disasters, major floods and a politically divided nation. All of this with Malaysia in the spotlight as a UN Security Council non-permanent member and chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations.