KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (AFP) - Anwar Ibrahim's children, who put up a bold front during his trial, have been prepared for his possible imprisonment and vow to carry on his struggle.
"We met our father Saturday and he calmly told all of us to be strong if he is found guilty and sentenced to jail," said Anwar's eldest child Nurul Izzah, an 18-year-old engineering freshman.
Izzah, who took leave to attend her father's marathon corruption trial, has become a familiar public figure next to her mother Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who has taken the helm of a new party of Anwar supporters.
"We are more determined than ever to continue our father's struggle," a confident-looking Izzah told AFP in an interview.
As the 77-day trial drew to a close on April 1, Anwar told reporters he was "realistic enough to accept the eventuality" of conviction.
Anwar, 52, has called for reforms against corruption, cronyism and nepotism.
His children say they have missed their father terribly since his detention on September 20, when commandos swooped on their home to arrest him under the draconian Internal Security Act after he led a massive anti-Mahathir rally following his sacking by the prime minister.
"My sisters, brother and I will never cease in believing in our father and we will always hope that truth and justice will somehow prevail one day," Izzah added.
"He is always close to our hearts and nothing or no one can take his presence away from us," she said.
Anwar's six children are aged between seven and 18 years.
Izzah said Anwar had already told all of them to be "strong" and they are prepared mentally to accept the verdict.
Anwar, whose sacking and arrest plunged Malaysia into its worst political crisis in decades, faces up to 14 years in prison.
Izzah said she feels "totally outraged and deeply saddened" by the whole episode, from her father's sacking from the government to the court trial.
While all of them are rallying around their mother for support, they have taken up new responsibilities in the absence of Anwar.
Nuha, 15 and now called the "fierce teacher," checks the school books of the younger ones.
Izzah said her 14-year-old brother, Ihsan, misses his father dearly and it had been especially hard for him to see his father detained.
"Being the only boy in the family, he misses the company of his father when playing football or video games," she said.