Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is nearing his second anniversary as Malaysian prime minister and has been the country’s longest-serving leader since 2022.
Anwar took office on Nov 24, 2022, and today marks his 706th day as prime minister. Before him, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was Malaysia’s shortest-serving prime minister, serving for 406 days (Aug 21, 2021, to Oct 10, 2022), plus 40 days as caretaker after calling for the 15th General Election.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin preceded Ismail, serving 536 days from March 1, 2020, to Aug 18, 2021. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister from May 10, 2018, until his resignation on Feb 24, 2020. He was in office for 656 days, a far cry from his first term from 1981 to 2003, spanning 22 years or 8,143 days.
Political analyst Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk said Anwar deserves credit for holding the government together under trying circumstances after bringing together multiple parties with vastly different ideologies, including former “enemy” Umno.
“None of the previous prime ministers had to deal with a government that was so fragmented,” said Azeem, director of the Centre for Policy Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
“That has been Anwar’s greatest strength, as he has had to work with so many parties, including Pakatan Harapan’s former enemy, Umno. The fact that it seems to be working – save for a few hiccups – is good for the country after the political turmoil during the Covid-19 years.”
Anwar’s administration has also achieved some significant milestones in the last two years, the latest being Malaysia’s acceptance as a BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – partner country.
BRICS is a ‘counterbalance’ to the United States’ and Europe’s dominance, and joining it aligns Malaysia with countries advocating for a fairer international system.
The bloc was established in 2009, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Since then, it has added South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Last week, the economic bloc added Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Turkiye, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. BRICS countries collectively represent over 40 per cent of the global population and nearly 25 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product.
Azeem said that by joining BRICS, Malaysia could strengthen its economic ties with China and India and encourage deeper collaboration and growth opportunities.
“Malaysia could also boost ties with Brazil and other countries, benefiting industries such as rubber, electronics, and palm oil,” said Azeem.
“We will get access to one of the biggest global markets, and that is a good thing.”
Anwar’s nearly two years in office have also seen Parliament amending the Federal Constitution to grant automatic citizenship to foreign-born children of Malaysian mothers and their non-Malaysian spouses.
Last year, Parliament also abolished the mandatory death penalty, decriminalised attempted suicide, and introduced leading-edge initiatives such as the National Energy Transition Facility (NETF) and the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030.
The appointment of Sarawakian Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as deputy prime minister, and Anwar’s commitment to review the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) have also earned him brownie points with East Malaysians.
Anwar’s ability to draw in once-lagging foreign investment is also a plus point.
However, Budget 2025 on Oct 18 drew flak when Anwar said T15 households – those with a household income of RM13,000 – would not be eligible for petrol subsidies by the middle of next year as these were the “ultra-rich.” The figure of RM13,000 was based on a 2022 report by the Department of Statistics Malaysia.
In Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar said the government would review the classification for the T-15, as the “Statistics Department’s figure of around RM13,000 may be too low.”
There was also backlash against Anwar for welcoming former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s apology regarding the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
On Oct 24, Najib apologised for ‘mishandling’ the multibillion-dollar 1MDB financial scandal, but maintained he had no knowledge of illegal transfers from the now-defunct state fund.
But the major sticking point with critics is Anwar’s failure to abolish draconian laws such as the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA).
Add to that, in August, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said social media platforms must apply for a licence before Jan 1, 2025, to continue operating in Malaysia.
Amnesty International, in its 2024 ‘The State of the World’s Human Rights’ report released in April this year, said Malaysia failed to act on commitments to enhance freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, refugee and migrant rights, address torture and ill-treatment, indigenous peoples’ rights, and the right to a healthy environment.
Most Malaysians are also still struggling to grasp the concept of Anwar’s Malaysia Madani.
Madani is an acronym made up of six core values – sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust, and compassion.
While the values are good, the concept of Madani remains unclear to many, even those in government.
Azeem, however, added that by bringing stability to the country in the last two years, Anwar has been able to work on fixing the economy and deserves to finish his full term.
“But moving forward, Anwar must start working on the promised institutional reforms he and Pakatan Harapan pledged while campaigning for GE15.
“That has been his biggest failure so far, and seeing the parties he has to work with, I’m not surprised that he is way off target. I don’t see any reforms happening under the current climate.”
