An extensive list of global leaders and political thinkers alike were quick to state a new dawn of sustained growth and untoward shared prosperity has emerged in Malaysia after an event which took place on a Thursday evening, some three months ago.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister at 5.06pm on Nov 24, 2022. The veteran reformist stateman took his oath of office before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at a ceremony held at the Istana Negara.
The ceremony closed the chapter on one of the most dramatic elections in Malaysia’s history, after no party managed to secure a majority to form a government for the first time since independence in 1957 and completing a remarkable political journey for Anwar that has involved a period as deputy prime minister, two politically motivated prison terms, and trying years in the opposition.
The recently concluded 15th General Election (GE 15) saw the Anwar-Led Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition emerging as the biggest winner with 82 seats. The country had been left without a new government for five days after conclusion of GE15 as the results threw up a hung parliament with no coalition winning the simple majority of 112 seats in the 222-seat Parliament to form a new government.
PH obtained the highest number of seats at 82, followed by PN with 73, BN with 30, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) with 23, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) with six, Parti Warisan Sabah with three, Parti Bangsa Malaysia and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat with one seat each. There were also two independent winners.
The imbroglio was finally broken on the morning of Nov 24 after His Majesty deliberated the views of fellow Malay Rulers who convened a special meeting at Istana Negara to make the best decision for the interests and well-being of the country and the people, five days after the official results of the GE15) were announced. His Majesty consented to Anwar’s appointment in accordance with Article 40(2)(a) and Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.
Anwar, 75, told newsmen soon after: “I will not tolerate corruption and abuses … None should be marginalised under my administration,” and tweeted, “This trust will be borne with humility and responsibility. I will carry out this solemn duty with my team guided by the will and desire of the people.”
He said his unity government would comprise PH, the former ruling coalition Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
Fast forwarding to 100 days later (which falls on Saturday, March 4), Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman and Tambun Member of Parliament, has proven the pundits right with his record of effective and corruption-free leadership offering good reason for hope that Malaysia can return to a stable development path leading to greater prosperity.
Financial markets reacted to Anwar’s ascendancy where Bursa Malaysia roared to a 10-week high, the key index closing at 1,501 points an hour before Anwar being sworn-in. The Ringgit rose, appreciating 1.8 per cent to RM4.491 against the greenback.
A Determined Journey
Over the last three months, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has achieved many milestones despite the presence strong headwinds facing the nation, the salient achievements, as he says, were guided by humility and responsibility.
November 25 – PM: Budget 2023, A Priority Of The 15th Parliamentary Session
Approval on emoluments for civil servants would be the first issue to be discussed at the Parliament session – the first under the government led by Anwar before Budget 2023 is tabled again.
“Of course, we have to clear the emoluments (for civil servants) first on Dec 19 so that our public servants don’t need to worry, The session on Dec 19 will be the first for the 15th Parliament session. “And then give us another month or so, then we will table a new budget or a revised budget,” Anwar said.
November 27 – PM Gets To Work, Chairs Sunday Meeting To Address High Cost Of Living
Anwar gets down to work on a Sunday, calling key heads of government agencies to chair a special meeting with the National Action Council on Tackling the Cost of Living. The meeting was conducted in the PM’s office in Putrajaya, where Anwar said the meeting will finalise certain short-term measures to curb the situation and long-term plans.
Meeting various figures including the Bank Negara governor, Chief Secretary, and selected department heads to address the major issue of the rising cost of living impacting the B40 segment of the population. This issue was also the PM’s main discussion point during his daily speech throughout the election campaign.
December 2 – Anwar Unveils Unity Govt Cabinet Line-Up
The announcement ends days of speculation on the composition of the Cabinet for the unity government comprising Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and other partners to the federal administration. Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof have been appointed as deputy prime ministers for the country’s first unity government.
December 5 – PM Instructs Special Gambling Draws Reduced From 22 Times To Eight Times A Year
The number of special gambling draws reduced to eight times a year compared to 22 times, said the Prime Minister. This is in keeping with the Pakatan Harapan government’s decision in 2020 to reduce the frequency of the special draws to only eight times annually.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government with Bersatu and Pas had increased the frequency of special draws to 22 times last year. Speaking at a news conference after chairing his first Council of Ministers meeting, Anwar said: “(Within) one day of becoming Finance Minister, I made the decision to supersede the earlier decision issued by the previous government, which then included Pas and Bersatu, regarding the special gambling draws. The previous government had increased the frequency of the draws from eight to 22 times.
December 6 -‘No Salary For Me’, Cab Ministers Agree To 20% Pay Cut
Anwar will not receive any salary, both as Prime Minister and as Finance Minister, he has clarified. Cabinet ministers have also agreed to a 20% pay cut until Malaysia reaches economic recovery, he said.
On the Cabinet ministers’ pay cut, he said this was their way of acknowledging the tough times faced by the people. “The pay cut will be implemented as long as Malaysia continues to recover economically. It shows the ministers are also concerned about the livelihood of the public.” This was in line with his promise made during the election campaign, he said.
December 16 – Govt Spends RM10bil To Subsidise Electricity Tariffs
The government allocated RM10.76 billion to subsidise electricity tariffs to assist Malaysians as against the actual cost of subsidies to maintain the current electricity tariff would have come up to RM14.91 billion if it was implemented across the board.
December 20 – RM107bil Mini Budget Approved
The Dewan Rakyat has passed the Consolidated Fund (Expenditure on Account) bill 2022 or the ‘2023 Mini Budget’ amounting to RM107,718,676,650 after being tabled by Anwar, who is also Finance Minister to facilitate provisions for expenditure in 2023 such as salaries of civil servants, given that the 2023 Budget has yet to be approved. Anwar said that the tabling of the mini budget was done with the aim of obtaining Parliament’s temporary permission so that the government can spend part of the budgeted expenditure for several months until the 2023 Supply Bill is re-presented and approved later.
The Treasury General Services would receive the highest allocation under the mini budget with RM28.118 billion followed by the Education Ministry with RM24.97 billion, Health Ministry (RM17 billion), Home Affairs Ministry (RM6.9 billion), Higher Education (RM5.85 billion) and Defence Ministry (RM5.7 billion).
December 21 – Cost Of ECRL Reduced By RM11.01bil
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project cost has been reduced by RM11.01bil from the RM85.97bil originally announced in 2016 although there has been an increase in terms of cost, the overall cost of the ECRL is lower. Anwar said the ECRL project will proceed without many changes, as that could slow down implementation and complicate ongoing negotiations as well as its progress.
December 22 – 30% Assessment Tax Deduction Given Homes Worth RM300,00 In Putrajaya
The Prime Minister said that all residences priced below RM300,000 will be given a 30 percent deduction from the total assessed tax.“This reduction is in line with the Unity Government’s desire to reduce the burden on the people, especially those involving the M40 and 840 groups who own affordable homes in Putrajaya. This 30 percent deduction is given to residential premises that have been completed in 2017 to date, involving nearly 8,500 residential units.,” he said.
January 8, 2023 – Anwar Sees Exchange Of Nine MOUs, 11 LOIs Between Malaysian And Indonesian Companies
Anwar witnessed the exchange of nine memorandums of understanding (MOU) and the handover of 11 letters of interest (LOI) between top Malaysian industry players and Indonesian companies, with a potential value of RM1.66bil, during his first official visit as PM to the nation.
The deals cover close cooperation across various sectors including manufacturing, renewable energy, pharmaceutical and property development, among others. The ceremony involved the signing of 11 LOIs, and saw the participation of ten top Malaysian companies, such as Berjaya Corporation, Tenaga Nasional, Pharmaniaga, Alliance MEP (Sarawak), Boustead Properties and Carsome, among others.
January 16 – Cash Aid To B40 Renamed Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah Distributed
The cash assistance program for B40 under the Finance Ministry has been rebranded as Rahmah Cash Contribution (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah or STR) and will continue to be improved, said Anwar. He said that the STR, previously known as Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia, has been brought forward to January from March this year and is expected to benefit 8.7 million in the B40 category.
Each eligible household received RM300 while single senior citizens and those unmarried men and women got RM100 each. “The unity government emphasises the compassionate approach in defending the plight of the poor, especially the vulnerable and easily affected. In line with that, the government has introduced the Payung Rahmah concept as a parent to initiatives to help the less able in facing the cost-of-living challenges.” ]
January 19 – Malaysia To Centre ‘Madani Nation’ As Its New Mandate For Progress
Malaysia has to instil a strong respect for the value of life to attain holistic sustainable development under humanitarian grounds of fairness, integrity and greater transparency, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in setting the new direction for the nation to move forward today (Jan 18).
Anwar explained that the nation’s new mandate or ‘Madani Nation’ stands on six distinct thrusts of Sustainability, Care and Compassion, Respect, Innovation, Prosperity and Trust. Fundamentally, the Madani concept reflects the trust forged between the government and the people on the basis of accountability and transparency.
January 19 – BNM Stays On 2.75% OPR Rate
Bank Negara Malaysia made a surprise decision by maintaining the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75 percent after four consecutive increases.The OPR has been increased four times in a row since last year beginning in May, July, September and November, each of which increased by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent compared to the previous record low of 1.75 percent.
Following the retention, the range of the highest and lowest rates of the OPR are also maintained at 3.00 percent and 2.50 percent respectively, according to the central bank’s statement.
January 20 – Govt Allocates RM300mil In Special Grant To Sarawak
The special grant for Sarawak under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution has been raised to RM300 million, while Sabah will receive RM260 million, Anwar Ibrahim announced. “After years of discussion, Sarawak was only given RM16 million initially.”
January 24 – Shared Strategic Needs Drive Malaysia-Brunei Ties
The PM’s visit to Brunei underscored the strategic importance of both countries to one another, especially in the field of high politics and security spectrum. Historically, culturally and socio-economically, both players have been traditional partners and similarly to Indonesia, have formed the axis of shared roots and affiliations that have provided progressive and justifiable tools and shared interests in preserving the sanctity and long-term resilience of these ties.
The visit, as also portrayed in the recent Indonesia visit, has largely focused on common collaborative ventures and integration in low politics including tourism, education, economic empowerment and people-to-people ties. Brunei-Malaysia ties have vast untapped potential and benefits that will provide greater returns under the umbrella of high politics and joint commitment in common defence and security.
January 30 – Anwar Sees Food Security As New Area To Be Explored With Singapore
Food security seen as one area of cooperation that can be explored with Singapore for the benefit of both countries.Anwar, who was in Singapore for a one-day official visit, said this new area could be explored amid outstanding issues that both Malaysia and Singapore needed to further focus on. He witnessed the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding which will promote cooperation in new and emerging areas, specifically on digital and green economies, and cyber security.
February 2 – Anwar Calls For Greater Private Sector Cooperation To Empower TVET Programmes
The government proposes that better collaboration involving the private sector and the government agencies be established to empower Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes. He proposed immediate steps to be taken for TVET students so that they can get jobs with a reasonable income. Among the proposals were for private and government-linked companies (GLCs) such as Petronas, DRB-HICOM Berhad, Sunway Group and Berjaya Group to train students or take over TVET centers across the country.
February 9 – EPF Disbursement: Govt Looking For A More Suitable Way To Help Malaysians
The government is looking for a more suitable way to reduce the burden on the people without taking out the savings of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) as EPF savings are an important matter to prevent people from suffering when it comes time to retire.
“So, we are looking for a way to reduce his burden without creating a burden when he retires later.”
February 10 – Call For Progress On Southern Thailand, Myanmar Conflict
Thailand’s southern insurgency and the conflict in Myanmar have dominated the Prime Minister’s two-day state visit to Thailand. Discussions about the Muslim separatist insurgency in Thailand’s southernmost provinces took the lead with his counterpart Prayut Chan-o-Cha with Anwar stating the government is committed to helping Thailand solve the long-running insurgency, but that his country “will not condone any sort of violence to resolve any conflict.” Anwar also urged Thailand to do more to address the conflict in neighbouring Myanmar, which has raged since the military seized power in a coup in February 2021.
February 13 – Expectations High On Budget 2023
The second session of the 15th Parliament convened amid growing public anxiety over soaring prices of goods, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim set to face his first real leadership test when he tables Budget 2023 on February 24. This will be Anwar’s maiden budget as prime minister and finance minister, and the reception could determine his government’s approval rating for the rest of the year. Anwar, who vowed to make the living cost issue a top priority upon taking office, currently enjoys a 68 per cent approval rating, according to a poll by Merdeka Center.
His national unity government said it would implement crucial parliamentary reforms as early as possible, including rolling out new practices meant to allow more scrutiny of the prime minister and his Cabinet members.
February 14 – No To GST Or Broad-Based Consumption Tax
The government has no plans to reintroduce the goods and services tax (GST) and other broad-based consumption taxes, the Prime Minister said other measures will be taken in an effort to reduce expenses and settle the government’s liabilities and debts which now reach RM1.5 trillion, representing 82 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“What we will tighten is the reduction of subsidies for the rich as is done in the issue of electricity subsidies.
March 1 – Malaysia, Philippines To Explore Further Cooperation In Various Sectors
Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed to explore further cooperation in various sectors as both neighbouring countries seek ways to elevate their bilateral relationship to new heights. The Prime Minister said the bilateral cooperation is multi-sectoral, covering trade and investment, education, health and agriculture, among others.
