KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - As more supporters fall out of love with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's regime, citing hypocrisy, deceit, the extra-judicial blocking of media, blogs and websites, as well as a stunning refusal to keep election promises - sinister stark realities have also emerged to add to the disquiet increasingly felt inside and outside the country.
When in 2018, the legendary autocrat Mahathir Mohamad led Anwar's Pakatan Rakyat coalition to overthrow 6 decades of political, racial and economic hegemony imposed by the then largest Malay party Umno, there were cheers and celebrations all round for a new dawn for Malaysia.
Unfortunately, Mahathir decided to backstab and topple his own government, handing the reins in 2020 to "I am Malay first, Malaysian second' Muhyiddin Yassin - who together with family members promptly rushed into a series of deals believed to be worth billions of ringgit and over which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and police have initiated investigations.
So badly did Muhyiddin administer the country that in less than 2 years, he was forced to give up the topmost post to Ismail Sabri, a serious-minded but obscure, small-time warlord from the Umno party.
Then when the general election rolled along in late 2022, and Ismail failed to win as he had expected to - handing the King the opportunity to invite Anwar, whose coalition won the most seats but not sufficient majority, to form a unity government.
It has not been a year since PMX, as the ageing Anwar is called, came to power. But already he is facing serious loss of popularity among the Malays, the largest electorate, as new heroes from the Islamic PAS party enter the scene including Sanusi Md Nor, the Kedah chief minister and Samsuri Mokhtar, the Terengganu chief minister.
Among the non-Malays, who have been his real source of support, hopes are also dwindling he can right the wrongs, level the playing field and bring the country to a new level of prosperity and modernity.
"After ten months in office, realities of regime are clearer. Malaysians realize (Anwar) regime represents Malay polity. Racial and kleptocrat problems remain status quo. Anwar regime is not embracing any semblance of a reform agenda," wrote several media quoting various commentators.
"The regime is not a government of the poor. Many thought his regime priority was to help the poor and marginalized. But the regime's policy and actions show little indication of that perception. The regime is not a government of the poor."
On the external front, while Anwar has rushed to court China - the dual-faced nature of his dealings and stance are similarly becoming more apparent.
Former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who is now in the PN opposition pact, has also expressed concern about the remarks made by Anwar at the recent UN General Assembly.
"I'm a former foreign minister, and I followed the prime minister's speech and I get nervous. I wonder if he thinks before he speaks; as if he's planning to change the country's foreign policy," said Saifuddin.
Of late, the bombshell revelations by well-known commentators and researchers have also raised eyebrows - forcing a rethink of what and who Anwar and his regime work and stand for.
"Never before has any Malaysian government been subject to this level of foreign influence," wrote a report.
Among noticeable accusations were the Anwar regime co-operating covertly with the CIA in the South China Sea; adhering closely or perhaps even blindly to the policies of the IMF, World Bank and WHO even though some of these can infringe on national sovereignty; campaign funds received from U.S. National Endowment for Democracy (NED) not being disclosed by regime members.
Politics Now! appends below more details:
MESTI BACA : STARK REALITIES OF THE REGIME BY MURRAY HUNTER
PENGARUH ASING / Foreign influence
monopolies being extended by the regime
rice and sugar shortages, due to continued restricted economic regime
regime supporting profit potential of these monopolies
rather than supporting consumers
Madani is just more of the same
stark reality is regime is just recombination of same political parties
different gomen same old policies
same old cronies hedging futures with current regime
madani is choice of Malay elite, works in their interests
Pro-Bumiputera still prevail, monopolies still exist
old Soviet era type economy, central planning, price controls, 5-year plans
Originally published in My Sin Chew 8th October 2023 - http://syedsoutsidethebox.blogspot.com/
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