NEW PM HAS PILE OF PROBLEMS
Malaysia’s perennial opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has finally been sworn in as prime minister before the king, ending a five-day political impasse after inconclusive polls.
But his problems are only just beginning.
The ceremony at the National Palace 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.
“I will not tolerate corruption and abuses … None should be marginalised under my administration,” Anwar told a news conference.
He said his focus would be on the economy.
“This is a national unity government. All are welcome, on condition you accept the fundamental rules of good governance, no corruption and Malaysia for all Malaysians,” Anwar said.
He said his multi-ethnic Pakatan Harapan coalition had been able to secure a majority after gaining seats from old foes in the former ruling bloc Barisan Nasional and another party in Sarawak state on Borneo island.
Anwar’s coalition won the most seats in the election with 82. That was ahead of the 73 won by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Malay-centric Perikatan Nasional bloc but still well short of the 112 needed for a majority.
Seeking to boost the legitimacy of his appointment, Anwar said his coalition would propose a vote of confidence in parliament on December 19.
Anwar’s supporters were in a celebratory mood in Kuala Lumpur.
“I got goosebumps, seriously,” said 36-year-old Norhafitzah Ashruff Hassan. “He fought hard to be given the chance to be PM. I hope he performs well.”
Anwar was first poised to take the reins in the late 1990s, after serving as finance chief and deputy prime minister under Malaysia’s political patriarch Mahathir Mohamad. But the two had a bitter falling out. Mahathir sacked his protege, who was also expelled from their then-party the United Malays National Organisation, and charged with corruption and sodomy. Anwar said the charges were politically motivated.
While Anwar now has the power, he also has a host of problems, from a tanking economy to unrest between the majority Muslim Malays and the minority Indian and Chinese populations, which follow different religions.