Malaysian anti-graft protest set to pressure Anwar to speed up reforms
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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s image as an anti-graft crusader has taken a beating since he came to power two years ago.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KUALA LUMPUR – An anti-corruption protest is planned for Jan 25 in Kuala Lumpur to renew pressure on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to speed up reforms and clamp down harder on corruption.
A group calling itself the People Hate Corruption Secretariat plans to gather in one of Kuala Lumpur’s key shopping districts and march 800m, according to a statement on Jan 23. The youth wings of two opposition parties confirmed their participation, according to the local media.
Protesters want the government to separate the Attorney-General Chambers from the Prime Minister’s Office, keep the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission independent, and introduce a political funding act.
“We urge the government to end all corruption based on those three demands, because only through firm action and full commitment can we restore the country’s honor and ensure justice and integrity as the foundation of governance,” the group’s statement said.
Mr Anwar told reporters Jan 24 the group was free to protest, but he questioned if any corruption had occurred during his time as prime minister.
“They are raising old issues – some we have resolved and some we can’t resolve,” Mr Anwar said. “If there are leaders now who are involved, tell us and we will take care of that.”
Mr Anwar’s image as an anti-graft crusader has taken a beating since he came to power two years ago.
Once a familiar figure in street rallies himself, Mr Anwar joined forces with the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) that he once opposed in order to form the government after the November 2022 election.
Since then, key allies from UMNO including Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak have won reprieve for some of their criminal cases.
At the same time, the anti-graft body has opened investigations into at least three of Mr Anwar’s adversaries and their families, including former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad. Mr Anwar has denied interfering in court cases and investigations.
Still, Malaysia has improved its score and ranking in Transparency International’s 2023 corruption perception index, reversing a downward trend since 2019. BLOOMBERG
