From Prisoner to Prime Minister
Inside Malaysian PM's first six months in office
After six decades of rule by a single party, Malaysia has faced a turbulent few years, going through several prime ministers. Elected in November 2022, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stood as a unity candidate. But six months in, he faces significant challenges including an increasingly vocal conservative Islamic opposition.
It hasn’t been an easy route to the top for Ibrahim, an ex-Deputy Prime Minister who had been jailed twice by previous governments. Now he promises to crack down on corruption. The most important issue, he claims, is "that corruption has been endemic in this country." Ibrahim has made the controversial decision to appoint Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, of the rival party Barisan, as Deputy Prime Minister. Political Analyst Tricia Yeoh explains this was seen "as a necessary political compromise." Engaging with young voters will be vital for Ibrahim’s longevity. Zul, a first-time voter, feels disillusioned: "I am a student, I do not have much money and the cost of living is too high. We want to find a solution to deal with this." With these challenges in addition to an increasingly powerful Islamic right-wing, Ibrahim's tenure is not likely to be easy.
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