Anwar Ibrahim’s Premiership - Keep Our Fingers Crossed

Anwar Ibrahim has only been the country’s prime minister for less than a month, but he has already been dealt a hard blow – the result of the Padang Serai poll. PN’s thumping win there is “writing on the wall” for Anwar Ibrahim. The seat was previously held by PH, yet the coalition lost by more than 16,000 votes!

Anwar has been carrying himself with great exuberance since he was sworn in as the 10^th Prime Minister of the country. I thought he should avoid being seen that way at this juncture. Yes, PH has garnered the highest number of seats, but it was not a clearcut winner. Moreover, Anwar’s own party PKR won only 31 seats. If not for the Palace’s urging, which prompted parties in Sarawak and Sabah to realign with him after Muhyiddin turned down the “unity” government suggestion, Anwar would not have made it.

By nature Anwar is a very charismatic person. He fields questions with spontaneity and flamboyance, and often the answers are laced with bombastic words. The press may love that, but I am pretty sure this style is viewed quite negatively by many in the Malay heartlands. 

Everywhere in the world, it is usual to see a new government doing witch-hunting after it has been installed. But this is an unusual time for Malaysia. The country is largely polarized, and Anwar’s mandate is also not founded on solid ground. Reaching out is priority No 1.

Instead, his first salvo was a public disclosure that there was a serious breach of procedure in government spending during the Muhyiddin administration – excessive payments, high markups as well as money going to certain parties. The alleged misappropriation is said to be RM600 billion.

That is an astronomical figure!

But look at it objectively. Is the allegation well grounded? Surely, Anwar cannot be saying that the whole RM600 billion has disappeared. I suspect some billions might have leaked here and there, but in Malaysia, is this a great surprise? If he was talking about procedural breaches per se, then I am afraid he is making a mountain out of a molehill. If either is true, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, the finance minister at that time, must take responsibility. Yet, Tengku Zafrul has been named the new minister of International Trade & Industry. Has he checked with Tengku Zafrul about it?

This allegation of Anwar reminds me of what Lim Guan Eng did when he first assumed office as Finance Minister during the Pakatan Harapan government. He expressed grave concern over the status of the country’s Consolidated Account, implying that some irregularities had taken place. Did we hear anything about it later? Was anyone convicted for it?

A more thoughtful man would certainly want it to be properly substantiated before an allegation of this proportion is hurled. Hope Anwar does not make a fool of himself, like what he has done with his “We have the numbers” claims before. He cannot afford it!

Interestingly, I read that the ministry’s Secretary General has been put on no pay leave. I do not know if there is any connection there. (A video clip showing this top official’s luxury home is now being circulated. A typical show-off by some “Napoleons” who think they can get away with murders!) Anwar’s explanation that the action is normal, blah, blah, blah is also a little disingenuous. It is short on truth.

Similarly, a business-like call by Anwar to Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary has similarly caused a storm. He is being accused by Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor of deliberating targeting Malay tycoons. There you are: Anwar is following DAP’s orders!

The GE15 results have clearly demonstrated that the Malay heartlands have shifted their support to PAS and despite the sentiments that have been expressed by the palaces, the pace is gaining momentum, as all of us can see from the Padang Serai result.

PN’s latest win is likely to embolden them to call for a confidence vote earlier than expected. And you cannot rule out the possibility that even some UMNO members may decide to jump ship, not to mention the others who have given their SDs to Muhyiddin before the formation of the present government.

Anwar’s political record has not been perfect. Many of us still remember his activism when we were still students at the University of Malaya in the aftermath of May 13. Some may also know this: When Anwar was the minister of Education, Syed Hussein Alatas, who was then the vice chancellor of the University of Malaya, had to vanish his ambition of making the university as well regarded as the University of Singapore. This resulted in several professors having to throw in their towel and move to Singapore or other places to further their academic careers. 

Nonetheless, Anwar has personally gone through a lot. I am sure he has gained much wisdom now. He has the traits to be a good leader for all. He must not allow himself to be tripped by his own debris. Talk less and do more to assure the Malay heartlands not to unnecessarily fear the minority are the way to go – at least in the first six months of his office.

An innocent picture like this can reinforce prejudices!