Anwar lacked Dr M’s clout in tackling Islam’ - K Kabilan. A leaked 1997 diplomatic cable shows that the US had backed Dr Mahathir's version of moderate Islam but felt that Anwar was too soft to handle the religious conservatives.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/05/27/anwar-lacked-dr-ms-clout-in-tackling-islam/