OVER the past year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim appears to have spent more time abroad than in Malaysia.
His frequent overseas trips – accompanied by an entourage of ministers and private sector representatives – are ostensibly aimed at securing foreign investments without overly burdening government funds.
However, this strategy has raised questions about its effectiveness and the message it sends to Malaysians.
Anwar’s meetings with foreign leaders and potential investors often culminate in announcements of billions of ringgit in foreign direct investments (FDI) expected to flow into the country.
While these declarations paint a promising picture, the actual impact remains ambiguous.
If one were to tally the estimated investments Anwar has claimed, Malaysia should be witnessing significant economic transformation. However, such results have yet to materialise tangibly.
Dwindling popularity
Anwar’s recent trip to the UK exemplifies the contradictions in his approach. While he proudly highlighted YTL Group’s plans to create thousands of jobs in the UK, the announcement inadvertently emphasised the outflow of Malaysian investments to a developed nation.
Such proclamations sit uneasily with the Malaysian public who expect his Madani government to prioritise job creation and investment domestically.
It is one thing for Malaysian companies to invest in under-developed or emerging economies where opportunities abound but funnelling resources into established, developed countries like the UK raises eyebrows.
It suggests a misplaced sense of pride – perhaps even a misguided notion of reverse colonialism – that contrasts sharply with the realities of Malaysia’s economic struggles.
A troubling pattern has emerged: Anwar’s overseas travels seem to correlate with his waning popularity at home.
The more criticism he faces domestically, the more frequently he appears on the global stage, often surrounded by ministers and private sector cheerleaders.
This escapism might create an impression of progress abroad but does little to address pressing issues at home.
While Anwar is often portrayed as a philosophical and well-read leader, his reluctance to engage meaningfully in parliamentary debates reveals another side of his leadership.
It’s not that Anwar lacks debating skills – his history as a fiery opposition leader proves otherwise.
Rather, his government appears bereft of substantive policies worth defending. His so-called Madani government has yet to offer compelling solutions to Malaysia’s challenges, including mounting foreign debt, pervasive corruption and entrenched racial and religious divides.
Say one thing bit does another
Anwar’s credibility suffered further when he reluctantly acknowledged the existence of a royal addendum related to the incarceration of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
This admission, forced by mounting political pressure which ultimately exposed his government’s lack of transparency.
Calls for his resignation over this concealment were brushed aside, a move reflective of Malaysia’s political culture where accountability is often sidelined.
Despite once being a beacon of reform, Anwar now appears to have abandoned those ideals to maintain power. His reliance on race and religion in politics mirrors the very tactics he once condemned, undermining his reformist image.
On international platforms, Anwar strives to project an image of a progressive leader committed to diversity and openness.
However, in interviews, he frequently sidesteps tough questions about Malaysia’s economic and social challenges, offering vague responses or recounting his personal hardships during incarceration.
This lack of substantive engagement has drawn criticism such as during a US trip when a journalist urged him to stop evading questions.
In many functioning democracies, leaders often found that they would face significant repercussions, including calls to step down, for withholding critical information or failing to deliver on promises.
Yet in Malaysia, such demands often fall on deaf ears. Anwar’s ability to weather these storms – coupled with his apparent focus on planning his next international trip – suggests a leader increasingly out of touch with the concerns of his own people.
In the end, Anwar’s leadership seems to oscillate between grand promises on the global stage and an inability – or unwillingness – to address Malaysia’s own pressing problems.
His government’s lack of transparency, reliance on outdated political tactics and failure to deliver meaningful reforms risk eroding the hope Malaysians once placed in him.
For a leader who once championed change, this represents a profound and disappointing shift. – Jan 23, 2025
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Images credit: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook
