Anwar not moving with the times, says political observer
A political observer says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appears to be stuck in the past, relying on slogans and narratives from his heyday in the 1990s as second in command to then leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
(MalaysiaNow) – Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said Anwar and his advisers did not seem to appreciate the differences in society that had taken place since then.
“Society is becoming more diverse,” he said. “By 2018, there were divisions such as T20, M20 and B40 that were not clear in 1998.
“But his slogans, messages, and speeches have not changed throughout the years.”
He gave the example of the Malaysia Madani slogan used by Anwar’s government, saying the concept had actually been introduced as early as 1992.
Back then, Shamsul said, the main division had been between the Malay and non-Malay communities.
While the Madani concept was now accepted by the non-Malays, he said it could backfire among the Malays.
“The majority of the Malays are uncomfortable with it,” Shamsul, of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute of Ethnic Studies, added.
“In this matter, Anwar is stuck between the Malays and the non-Malays.”
