MANY Malaysians dream of landing the most prestigious job in the country. After all, becoming Prime Minister means reaching the pinnacle of political success.
You get the official residence, a fleet of vehicles, police escorts and the privilege of representing the nation on the world stage.
From the outside looking in, it appears to be the ultimate position of power and influence.
But if recent events are any indication, it may also be one of the most thankless jobs in Malaysia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently posted a video on social media showing a torn sleeve on his shirt.
For most ordinary people, such an incident would barely qualify as a conversation topic.
A torn sleeve is simply evidence that a piece of clothing has reached the end of its useful life. Not when you are the Prime Minister.
Anwar wrote in the caption, “Baju koyak tampa, jangan…” encouraging the Rakyat to finish his sentences.
Baju koyak takpa, jangan ….. pic.twitter.com/H4li3GbiU0
— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) June 13, 2026
Apparently that was not the best decision because the comment section has since been filled with cheeky, angry and sarcastic netizens who simply wanted to vent their frustration towards the Madani government.
“A torn shirt is alright, but a torn trust is not,” said a philosophical @AlexGracia25724.
Then there was an obnoxious @AminuddinAdnan pointing out that it is best if the back of his pants is not torn.
“Maybe Saiful Bukhari was torn like this too. Thankfully Yusof Rawther managed to run away,” added @AIGeek007.
Perhaps the sharpest comment came from @Sammykxrw9 and this was what he said:
Thankfully, Anwar’s sacrifices are still recognised by a number of users in the online community.
“A torn shirt is alright. What’s important is that the economic indicators are great,” said @Matrix733.
Another netizen said that after the election, people will finally know who is the real one who gets torn.
The reality is that leadership in the digital age has become increasingly difficult. The public expects politicians to be relatable, but not too relatable.
They should be successful, but not appear wealthy. They should be humble, but not perform humility. They should communicate frequently, but not excessively.
What earns praise from one group often attracts criticism from another. As a result, Prime Ministers spend much of their time navigating impossible contradictions.
Perhaps that is why so many political leaders seem to age rapidly after taking office. The long meetings, economic challenges and parliamentary debates certainly play a role.
But perhaps an equally significant factor is the knowledge that every photo, every statement, every meal and every torn sleeve could become tomorrow’s national conversation.
The next time Malaysians wonder why politicians appear exhausted, they should consider this simple reality.
Running a country is difficult. Running a country while millions of people analyse your shirt is even harder. —June 15, 2026
Main image: @anwaribrahim (X)
