TODAY, Keadilan turns 20.

Well, to be precise, the party known as Parti Keadilan Nasional was formed on this day two decades ago. It merged with Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) four years later to form Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

As an interesting footnote of history, PRM did not get dissolved in the merger, and other members took over to keep it running, somewhat.

But Keadilan – the idea, concept and party – is 20 years old. And, part of the Pakatan Harapan federal government 10 years after first winning power in five states through the then Pakatan Rakyat in 2008.

There have been many twists and turns in the tale since the formation of Keadilan (political activists aligned with then sacked deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim had taken over Ikatan Masyarakat Islam Malaysia and made his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, party president to champion his freedom) on April 4, 1999.

Just 10 days after Keadilan came into being, Anwar was sentenced to six years’ jail for corruption. The sodomy conviction with nine years’ jail was to be handed down on August 8, 2000.

All that is history now. Keadilan’s first president, Dr Wan Azizah, is now deputy prime minister. The current president, Anwar, will be the next prime minister after Dr Mahathir Mohamad retires in an agreed power change.

In 20 years, we’re going through a cycle that had been interrupted the first time around in 1998 that led to Keadilan being formed and history being made.

Could it have been any different? What if there was no political upheaval and sacking in 1998? Anwar would have made the top job while still in Umno? Would that mean Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would not have been prime minister, or Najib Razak? No 1Malaysia Development Bhd?

That wormhole of history remains unknown, perhaps a parallel universe that is happening but beyond our knowledge.

We are just where we are today. It has been a long and hard struggle for the early ones in Keadilan. Some left the party, some left the powers that be within the party, and some are leaving posts after winning federal power.

It beguiles one to think of all the options and variables in the party’s timeline all these years. A party set up for justice – initially for one man, and then, all Malaysians – is now a party whose members demand justice for themselves, and are openly fractious and hostile to each other.

For sure, it is politics. For sure, it is the achievement of getting Anwar out and back in his trajectory of becoming prime minister. For sure, it is a party searching a role that caters to all in a nation of different needs, ambitions and uneven development.

For sure, it will be a party to watch over the years. It might have begun with a black eye for Anwar, but it must never be a black eye for Malaysia, ever. – April 4, 2019.

* Jahabar Sadiq runs The Malaysian Insight.