KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 — US President Barack Obama’s Asian pivot must go beyond trade and security issues to promote democracy, especially in countries like Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

The opposition leader said in an opinion piece carried by The Washington Post that the ideals of freedom and democracy must be central to Obama’s engagement with the east, as the superpower seeks to reinvigorate its influence.

“President Obama’s visit to Malaysia this weekend comes at a pivotal time. It would be an opportune moment to live up to the ideals Obama espoused in his campaign and the early days of his administration.

“Then, there was hope that US engagement with Muslim countries would be based on mutual respect and mutual interest. Yet as the Arab Spring came and went, hope was eclipsed by disappointment.

“It is baffling that the United States can talk about a democratic transition in Egypt today as hundreds of innocent people are sentenced to death while thousands languish in prison,” Anwar said.

The former deputy prime minister said that like in the Middle East, Malaysia has been experiencing its own form of an “Arab Spring” over the past 15 years, with growing discontent over chronic corruption and abuse of power.

He claimed that widespread fraud and gerrymandering by the ruling Barisan Nasional in last year’s national polls cost his Pakatan Rakyat coalition victory despite firmly securing the popular vote.

“For the first time in our history, the voices of reform and democracy represent the majority. In last year’s general election, the popular vote in favor of the opposition would have swept from power the authoritarian regime of Najib Razak and the party that has ruled Malaysia since its independence in 1957.

“In its place would have been the Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance), poised to push the nation on the path to greater freedom and democracy. Alas, widespread fraud and devious gerrymandering perpetrated by the ruling party, a situation the White House noted, affected the outcome,” he said.

Anwar said this is where Obama can make amends for the let downs in the US’ failed engagements with the Muslim world, taking a position of leadership in promoting democratic ideals that have long been the pillars of the US.

“No doubt Malaysia’s media will shower praises on the regime in the wake of Obama’s visit. Malaysia has descended to 145th place on the Reporters Without Borders index of media freedom, so it takes some effort for Malaysians to get the truth.

“And the truth is that the U.S. pivot to Asia should not merely be about trade and investment or the creation of alliances of the world’s great powers, important as these goals may be.

“The values of freedom and democracy must remain paramount, and even if Wilsonian idealism appears to be on the wane, Jeffersonian ideals still resonate with the people in this part of the world,” he said.