Anwar as reformist prime minister should have political will

From P Ramasamy

No different prime minister has had such excessive expectations positioned on him by the individuals than Anwar Ibrahim, the nation’s tenth prime minister.

The submit eluded him for greater than 20 years. If the whole lot went in accordance with plan, he ought to have succeeded Dr Mahathir Mohamad because the nation’s fifth prime minister.

The truth that he was denied the submit not solely then however even after the final basic election (GE14) in 2018 is topic to many interpretations. However merely put, he was twice denied the prospect to guide the nation by Mahathir.

The excessive expectations that individuals have positioned on Anwar as prime minister will not be as a result of he’s Anwar or as a result of he’s the chief of Pakatan Harapan (PH) however due to the reformist beliefs that he cherished and embodied.

That is the rationale why it was so necessary for Anwar to turn out to be the prime minister.

The vast majority of Malaysians voted for PH in order that Anwar may turn out to be the prime minister as a result of they believed in him to deliver the much-desired adjustments for the higher.

The announcement that Anwar can be the prime minister introduced hope and pleasure to Malaysians.

The nation actually wanted a change of management to make sure political stability and financial improvement.

These elusive qualities have been lacking within the earlier governments, whether or not it was led by Perikatan Nasional (PN) or Barisan Nasional (BN).

Earlier than Anwar was put in because the prime minister on Nov 24, amid the uncertainty of which coalition would get to rule, the individuals have been additionally feeling down, questioning if there was any hope for Malaysians and the longer term generations in Malaysia.

Ridicule and harassment

The prime minister’s submit eluded Anwar for a very long time. For greater than 20 years he was subjected to ridicule and harassment. He was additionally imprisoned twice on trumped-up fees.

However Anwar persevered with the reformist agenda behind him. He defied the predictions of racist and non secular bigots that Anwar may by no means turn out to be the prime minister of the nation.

It was his indefatigable wrestle in opposition to the percentages that ultimately landed him the current place.

It’s a pivotal place the place Anwar can now consider what must be finished for his beloved nation, Malaysia.

By no means earlier than in historical past had there been lots of, hundreds and tens of millions of Malaysians regardless of race and faith coming collectively to help Anwar.

Anwar is a mere mortal, there may be solely a lot he can do. However the excessive expectations which were positioned on his shoulders is one thing thought-about regular.

Within the coming days, weeks and years, Anwar has to take inventory of issues that have been articulated in PH’s manifesto to determine their gradual implementation.

The variety of ministers and deputy ministers needs to be diminished in step with the promise not simply to avoid wasting on authorities expenditure but additionally to make sure efficient implementation of presidency insurance policies and measures.

Reforms to the political and financial system can’t be finished in just a few days.

There’s a want for a gestation interval for the correct formulation of coverage measures.

Unsound insurance policies and advert hoc measures carried out by the earlier authorities needs to be finished away with.

Finally, Anwar’s efficiency shall be measured by way of whether or not he can have the political will to hold ahead the badly wanted reforms essential to stabilise the political financial system of the nation.

Most significantly, Anwar ought to begin off by unburdening the financial and social burdens on the rakyat led to by the unsound insurance policies of the previous authorities.

 

P Ramasamy is Penang deputy chief minister II and an FMT reader.

The views expressed are these of the author and don’t essentially mirror these of FMT.