KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — PKR leaders today compared the imprisoned de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, noting that both men have endured long, arduous journeys in their political careers.

Taking to Twitter to comment on Sanders’ win in New Hampshire today, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli said although the US Senator has for three decades been campaigning for free education and income equality, he was only taken seriously after announcing his bid for US presidency.

“As I remember @anwaribrahim’s 1yr 3^rd incarceration, I am reminded of @BernieSanders’ long journey. For 3 decades no one took him seriously,” the Pandan MP said, tagging the 75-year-old Sanders to the post.

“@BernieSanders is the antithesis of American establishment. He has campaigned consistently since 70s free education, anti Wall St greed etc.

“Most people would not hv thought that 70-something @BernieSanders who was ignored for decades could become a leading contender 4 presidency,” he continued in a series of posts.

“@BernieSanders may be an exception to the rule, but I hope/think @anwaribrahim is also an exception to the rule. There will be time,” Rafizi added.

Rafizi also took a dig at Umno by comparing the ruling party to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump who has been known to issue controversial statements.

“Donald Trump resorting to jingoism immediately. Ha3 I think he will fit in well in Umno if he is a Malaysian. Sounds like Umno speech by now,” he tweeted.

Trump, who won New Hampshire’s Republican presidential nomination contest today, stirred public sentiment while on the stump in recent weeks with controversial remarks like his call to deport illegal immigrants and temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is also Anwar’s daughter, tweeted “Think @SenSanders” to a retweet of Malay Mail Online’s report of her saying last night that Anwar’s age did not preclude him from being leader of the opposition.

Nurul Izzah, who was speaking at a gathering to mark her father’s first year behind bars, had said that if Sanders was able to garner so much support despite being in his 70s, then there is hope yet for the opposition’s fight against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Yesterday, about 500 people gathered at the gates of the Sungai Buloh to mark a year since Anwar’s incarceration, which was marked with speeches by various opposition parties including Parti Amanah Negara, PKR, DAP and Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

On February 10, 2015, the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s conviction of Anwar for sodomising his former political aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2008.

The conviction meant Anwar was disqualified as MP and will be barred from contesting in an election for five years after his release.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister and also former Permatang Pauh MP who previously spent six years in prison between 1999 and 2004, is currently serving the five-year jail term.