The publication also placed Anwar in the ninth position under the category of “rulers and politicians”.

Describing Anwar as a “resilient” figure who has had a dynamic political journey spanning three decades, RISSC listed Anwar’s history as political leader and prime minister.

These include his first foray into student politics at Universiti Malaya in the late 1960s, his entry into Umno at the invitation of then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his subsequent dismissal, and how he overcame his tribulations to eventually become prime minister.

“Anwar’s political journey has been a turbulent one, marked by both triumphs and setbacks. As a key figure in Malaysia’s economic boom of the 1990s, he clashed with Mahathir during the 1997 financial crisis, leading to his dismissal in 1998,” the publication said.

The centre also said Anwar had returned to Parliament before rising to the prime minister’s post after he was given a royal pardon in 2018 for sodomy and corruption charges, with “travesty of justice” cited as the reason for his release.

One rank above Anwar in the same category is Saudi crown prince and prime minister Mohammed bin Salman, whom RISSC described as “largely unknown in political and diplomatic circles” at the beginning of 2015, but quickly rose to take up prominent political positions.

Other prominent names in the same category include Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto, president Joko Widodo, Bangladesh’s interim prime minister Muhammad Yunus, and mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II took first place in the overall rankings, followed by Yemeni scholar Sheikh Al-Habib Umar Hafiz and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik, scholar Syed Naquib Al-Attas, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, as well as Palestinian journalist and activist Bisan Owda also made the list, although in different categories.