2024 THE MAKE OR BREAK YEAR FOR ANWAR DESPITE ROYAL RESPITE - MALAYSIA'S MIDDLE CLASS LOSES CONFIDENCE AS INVESTORS FLEE - ECONOMIC & POLITICAL CRISES AT THE DOOR IF RINGGIT BUSTS RM5
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - What did Malaysia's new King really say? That's the burning question and hottest topic of debate on the lips of Malaysians and their less than reliable politicians across the country now.
Did Sultan Ibrahim in his maiden address to Parliament actually give embattled Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim a royal assurance that he could stay on as PM until the next general election due in 2027? Or was the King just showing the world he would stand up for the ordinary people in the country and would not tolerate political shenanigans that dragged in the Palace?
"I think the King is mindful that top on the minds of the people right now is the awful state of the economy and the plunge of the ringgit which is causing havoc to everyone. Only the big time exporters gain. Everyone else is worried and feeling the pinch, they want a stop to the politicking, be it from the Opposition or from Anwar himself. The political instability and almost total neglect by the Anwar regime to put a brake on the rot is already making Malaysia the last choice destination to investors. It has also sparked a major loss of confidence in our middle class for our own government," a veteran political watcher told Politics Now!
"But what if the 'monkey tricks' keep coming from the Anwar side? What if the Speaker of the Parliament keeps blocking no-confidence motions against Anwar, who is his boss? What if parliamentary processes are made a mockery of by the current government? Will Sultan Ibrahim close an eye just so Anwar's regime can stay in power? Did the King say that? So this is the question mark that only the foolish will ignore. If Anwar's government, which is already unpopular, hides behind the royal comment or use it to further their own goals, then I think they will run the risk of dethroning themselves."
On Monday, Sultan Ibrahim had warned MPs against causing political instability, advising them to prioritize protecting the welfare of the people over their own ambitions and interests. “All parties must accept the reality and respect the unity government that has been formed. If you want to play politics, wait for the next general election,” His Majesty told the august house.
2024 MAKE OR BREAK YEAR FOR ANWAR
The unexpectedly forthright royal statement immediately sparked a firestorm of responses, leaving leaders of the Opposition in outraged disbelief, although Anwar's supporters rushed to hail the King's 'wisdom'.
The reaction among the ordinary people was more muted and mixed. The non-Malays who are the minority in Malaysia's 33 million population and form the bulwark of Anwar's support base are deeply disappointed with his performance - whilst the Malays are more eager to see him removed and replaced by a more capable leader, privately referring to his leadership as "unpredictable".
Indeed, almost all in the country are disillusioned with the current crop of leaders - and see no way out for a system that has been gutted by decades of endemic corruption and racism. Be it from the government or the Opposition, there does not appear to be anyone capable enough to dig Malaysia out from the grave created first by fourth prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's excessive Malay nationalism and racism, then exacerbated by sixth prime minister Najib Razak's astounding multi-billion ringgit corruption and 1MDB debacle, eighth prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin's focus on only his own interests and now 10th prime minister Anwar's glaring lack of capability and fumbling that has brought the local currency to its knees - and with it, the nearest risk to economic collapse than at any other time in the country's 67-year history.
"It is ironic that for decades supporters of Anwar's Pakatan Rakyat coalition and DAP have worked and hoped that they would come to power and right all the wrongs of the previous PMs. Yet it is Anwar who has to face the firing squad for the ringgit's plunge. Even at the worst of Najib's excesses, it was not as uncontrollable as now. If the ringgit busts past RM5 to US$1, the chain effect will be horrendous. It will be a full-blown economic crisis," the former head of money at a large foreign bank told Politics Now!
Even those within the government are alarmed and slowly starting to speak up - even while analysts battle over whether the King's statement will give Malaysia's overheated political landscape the wake-up call it badly needs.
"There should not be reason not to carry out more better government reforms. To me, this year 2024 is more crucial than 2023. It is a make or break year for the Madani (Anwar's) government," Wong Chen, the MP for Subang and a member of Anwar's PKR party, told in Parliament days after the royal address.
"The time to ponder whether to reform or not to reform is over. Reform 100% is the only solution," added Wong, warning against a dire domino effect on the economy if the ringgit breaches the psychological RM5 level - while acknowledging the sharp loss of confidence towards the government by Malaysia's middle class.
Former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming of DAP has also told the government to focus on delivering results instead of making“stale soundbites”.
At 9am, the ringgit edged up to 4.7370/4.7410 against the greenback compared with Thursday’s close of 4.7400/4.7455.
NO CONFIDENCE VOTE
Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia was reported by Free Malaysia Today news portal as saying the King's remarks do not guarantee that Anwar will remain prime minister until the 16th general election.
She said the Agong’s discretionary power to appoint the prime minister, as laid out in the Federal Constitution, would not stop MPs from tabling a motion of no confidence against Anwar in Parliament.
“We don’t know what will happen in the next few years. There is still a possibility (for a change of government).
“The possibility may have become slimmer (after the Agong’s statement), but that’s not to say that it is entirely gone,” Syaza said.
However Jeniri Amir, a fellow at the Council of Professors and appointed there by the Anwar regime, said the “stern” royal message gave Anwar's government a “guarantee of stability”. Jeniri urged Anwar to make use of the opportunity to make good on promised reforms.
MIDDLE CLASS LOSES CONFIDENCE IN 'DICTATORSHIP' ANWAR REGIME
Yet doubts and pessimism far exceed confidence and optimism that the narcissistic Anwar will wake up and stop over-focusing on the 'revengeful politics' that have hallmarked his administration so far - going after high-profile former leaders including long-time foes Daim Zainuddin and Mahathir Mohamad, whom he blames for his downfall and imprisonment on sodomy and abuse of power charges soon after the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
Most of all, perhaps the lack of faith that Anwar is up to mark and can perform stems mostly from the way his inner circle and Little Napoleon ministers have moved to gag critics and pile pressure on political rivals. For example, enforcement institutions including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the police are now perceived as being used as tools to achieve his political goals even more than during the worst days of the Najib regime, when the name of the game was to cover up the gigantic 1MDB scandal.
"I would take with a large pinch of salt the advice or recommendations from Anwar's MPs and allies. It's pretty sound advice, mind you, but the greatest problem is Anwar himself. Will he heed the advice from his own side and how many will dare speak up like Wong Chen or Kian Ming," an insider told Politics Now!.
"From reform and democracy icon, Anwar's administration has become like the dictatorship they were always accusing the past PMs of being. I don't think anyone can influence or change the decisions Anwar makes these days."
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
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