Anwar’s appeal is scheduled to be heard on July 25 after a trial court turned down his bid for immunity. Anwar’s critics say he has failed to reverse a series of repressive laws, including the Sedition Act, the Communications and Multimedia Act, and the Printing Presses and Publications Act, using the laws to harass and prosecute activists, government critics, and others exercising fundamental freedoms. The communications minister, Ahmad Fahmi Fadzil, has particularly come under attack for his repressive moves against bloggers and other media. Anwar’s attempt to lead with Islamic values and principles is used by his detractors to claim that he is both too liberal and too Islamist. The next general election is in 2028, giving Anwar three years to restore trust and confidence if he can hang on.