Anwar: Reforms must be gradual amid political realities
by AUFA MARDHIAH
PRIME Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended the government's gradual pace of reforms, citing the political realities of leading a coalition without a parliamentary majority.
Speaking at the launch of the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance University's (Inceif) International Centre for Research and Innovation in Islamic Economics (i-RISE Centre) today, Anwar said Malaysia's current political structure demands wisdom and consensus-building, rather than abrupt changes that risk destabilising the administration.
'We have 82 seats under Pakatan Harapan (PH) — not even a simple majority. So yes, it has to be done with 'hikmah' (wisdom),' he said.
He also stressed the importance of cross-party consensus, especially among coalition partners such as UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN), to ensure sustained reform momentum.
'We must get consensus between the key parties…that's how we embark on support for alternative programmes like INCEIF or i-RISE,' he added.
Responding to criticism from those demanding faster reforms, Anwar cautioned that rushed moves could backfire under current political constraints.
He also pointed to the broader failures in Muslim-majority countries, stating that the problem lies not in the absence of Islamic principles, but in endemic corruption and abuse of power.
'The flaw is not that we lack Islamic instruments — it's that they are blatantly corrupted,' he said.
Despite the challenges, Anwar reaffirmed his administration's commitment to consistent progress.
'Every month and every year, there must be some progression. There is no turning back,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
MALAYSIA SEEKS WIN-WIN SOLUTION WITH INDONESIA ON AMBALAT ISSUE
AM TANGKAK, June 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will work towards achieving a 'win-win' solution with Indonesia on the maritime boundary issue in Ambalat, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He said this could be achieved through the formation of a joint development authority to spur economic growth and address technical issues in the area. 'Why don't we jointly explore the mineral resources there so that both countries can benefit from them? 'In addition, we will continue talks and negotiations on the border. So we don't want a 'lose-lose' situation (between the two countries),' he told reporters after officiating the Ledang UMNO Division Delegates' Meeting at Dewan Putra Padang Lerek here today. Last Friday, the media reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had expressed the strong commitment of both countries to accelerate strategic cooperation in various fields, including joint development in the maritime border area of Malaysia and Indonesia in Ambalat in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner. Anwar, at a joint press conference following a bilateral meeting at Istana Merdeka in Jakarta, said both countries should consider economic cooperation, including in the maritime border area, for the benefit of the people. Meanwhile, Mohamad said he would be visiting Rome and Paris starting tomorrow to meet with his counterparts ahead of Anwar's participation in the BRICS Summit next month. He said discussions with his counterparts would cover several issues, including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Palestine, and the conflict involving Iran and the Zionist regime. 'That has always been part of our discussions, namely (the conflict) in Gaza and now in Iran… that will be the main issue,' he said.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Germany backs Israel after Iran war in first high-level visit
BAT YAM: German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt expressed support for Israel on Sunday during a visit to the site of an Iranian missile strike near Tel Aviv, part of the destruction left by this month's 12-day war. It was the first visit by a senior foreign official since the war between Iran and Israel, which ended on Tuesday after a ceasefire was announced. 'We must deepen our support for Israel,' Dobrindt said, speaking amid the rubble in Bat Yam, south of the coastal hub of Tel Aviv, where an Iranian strike killed nine people including three children. Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran on June 13, saying it was aimed at keeping the Islamic republic from developing a nuclear weapon -- an ambition Tehran has consistently denied. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the German visit a gesture of 'solidarity' and urged the international community to reimpose sanctions on Iran. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on June 17, on the sidelines of a G7 summit in Canada, said Israel was doing the 'dirty work... for all of us' by targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Israel has acknowledged being hit by more than 50 missiles during the 12-day war with Iran, resulting in 28 deaths, but the true extent of the damage may never be known due to stringent media restrictions. In Iran, Israeli strikes killed at least 627 civilians and injured nearly 4,900, according to official figures.
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Netanyahu must go, says former Israeli PM Bennett
JERUSALEM: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must leave office, his predecessor Naftali Bennett has told a televised interview, refusing to say whether he intends to challenge the country's longest-serving leader in an election. In an interview with Israel's Channel 12 that aired on Saturday, former prime minister Bennett said Netanyahu "has been in power for 20 years... that's too much, it's not healthy." "He bears... heavy responsibility for the divisions in Israeli society", Bennett said of growing rifts within Israel under Netanyahu, who has a strong support base but also staunch opponents who have demanded his departure including over his handling of the Gaza war since October 2023. Netanyahu "must go", said the former prime minister, a right-wing leader who in 2021 joined forces with Netanyahu critics to form a coalition that ousted him from the premiership after 12 consecutive years at the helm. But the fragile coalition government Bennett had led along with current opposition chief Yair Lapid collapsed after about a year. Snap elections ensued, and Netanyahu again assumed the premiership with backing from far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. Bennett, who has taken time off from politics, has been rumoured to be planning a comeback, with public opinion polls suggesting he may have enough support to oust Netanyahu again. No vote is currently planned before late 2026, however, although early elections are common in Israel. In his Saturday interview, Bennett claimed credit for laying the groundwork for Israel's bombardment campaign earlier this month against Iranian nuclear and military sites. The decision to launch attacks against the Islamic republic "was very good" and "needed", said Bennett, claiming that the offensive would not have been possible without the work of his short-lived government. In Gaza, where Israel has waged war since Hamas's October 2023 attack, Bennett said the military has displayed "exceptional" performance but "the political management of the country" was "a catastrophe, a disaster." Criticising the Netanyahu government's "inability to decide", the former prime minister called for an immediate "comprehensive" agreement that would see all remaining hostages freed from Gaza.
