MALAYSIA enters a a new year with plenty of hope. There is a new government in place, and with it comes political stability.

This should attract investments in the country to revive the economy.

The Anwar Ibrahim-led government has also promised plenty of reforms to improving people’s livelihoods to restoring the integrity of our institutions.

But all this will not come easy.

Here are some of the challenges Malaysians will face in 2023.

Economy

The year 2022 saw a new war, record inflation and climate-linked disasters. It was a “polycrisis” year, a term popularised by historian Adam Tooze.

After the Covid-induced economic crisis of 2020, consumer prices rose as countries emerged from Covid lockdowns and restrictions.

Central banks predicted skyrocketing inflation would only be temporary as economies returned to normal. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February sent energy and food prices soaring.

Analysts said political stablity in Malaysia would be economically rewarding.

Inflation

The government has to introduce long-term plans for food security. It also has to ensure that all Malaysians can afford to put food on the table.

There has been no real attempts to resolve shortage of food items or to lower the prices.

The new governmnt now has the chance to put into practice the solutions it talked about when it was the opposition.

Unity government

Analysts have predicted that the unity government consisting of Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Warisan will last the full term after party leaders agreed to set aside their differences.

However, Perikatan Nasional is still scheming for power.

Not every Umno MP is happy to back Anwar. Several party lawmakers have brought up the fact that Umno has once pledged never to work with DAP.

Party elections this year will see if Zahid is able to defend his presidency. If he loses, Anwar’s government may be in trouble as the anti-Zahid camp could want out of the deal with PH.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

The Umno president standing trial for corruption is Anwar’s deputy prime minister.

In September, Zahid was freed of all 40 charges of receiving bribes in connection with the foreign visa system. The prosecution has filed an appeal against the verdict.

The Bagan Datuk MP still has 47 corruption and money-laundering charges to answer to in the Yayasan Akal Budi corruption case.

Now that he is the second most powerful man in Malaysia, will there be a political decision made to exonerate him?

State elections

Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Terengganu, Kelantan and Negri Sembilan are set to hold state elections this year.

It is worth noting that PN chalked up landslide wins in rural Malay seats in the November general election.

PN won Permatang Pauh, an Anwar stronghold since 1999, and Kapar, a seat PH had held for several terms.

PN also won Perlis, a state that has been governed by Umno for decades. The coalition had a free run in Kelantan and Terengganu and took a large chunk of the Pahang and Perak state seats.

It will be interesting to see if the PH states are able to withstand the sweeping currents that have been dubbed the “green wave” after the colour of the PAS flag.

Extremism

Islamist PAS has pressed for a strong Muslim-led government, saying people not of the faith should not be in the cabinet.

Party members have continued to harp on race and religious issues.

It can be expected that in 2023, Malaysia will see more extreme sentiments from the opposition as it tries to convince the Muslims that their rights are being eroded.

Oppressive laws

PH pledged to get rid of oppressive laws in its 2018 manifesto. However, it did not deliver the promise during the 22 months it was in power.

In its second stab at power, PH is backtracking again. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has said there is no need for the government to review Sosma.

Who will be the new attorney-general?

The AG is appointed by the king on the advice of the PM. 

The new government is looking to replace Idrus Harun.

It is said that Federal Court judges Zabidin Diah, Yaacob Sam and Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil are under consideration for the post. 

Court of Appeal judge Kamaludin Md Said and High Court judge Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh are also reported to be on the list.

Civil rights groups have lambasted the decision to appoint an AG from among serving judges.

Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture said it is best to appoint a senior public officer or any other lawyer as the new AG instead.

Police oversight

The Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission Bill was proposed in 2005 for greater police transparency and accountability.

The bill was tabled in July 2019 after Pakatan Harapan won the 2018 general election.

The previous Barisan Nasional government and top police officers had been opposed to the law, saying it would curtail the power of the force.

In August last year, the Perikatan Nasional administration replaced the bill with the watered-down IPCC bill.

The bill parked the proposed police oversight board under the Home Ministry. 

Will the newly minted home minister be brave enough to re-introduce the original bill?

Indira Gandhi’s missing daughter

M. Indira Gandhi has been fighting the system for 13 years to be reunited with her daughter Prisana Diksa, who was snatched by her ex-husband, Muhammad Riduan Abdullah.

He converted Prasana and her older two siblings into Islam without Indira’s knowledge.

In a 2018 landmark ruling, the Federal Court quashed the unilateral conversions of Indira’s children, Prasana and two older siblings.  

The whereabouts of Riduan and Prasana remain unknown in 2023. Six IGPs have taken up the case but none have succeeded in finding them.

Anwar Ibrahim is the fifth prime minister to hold office since Indira last saw Prasana, who was 11 months old at the time, in 2010. 

Climate emergency

Environmental groups have urged the government to declare a climate emergency to prevent natural disasters.

The previous PN government was pressured to do the same but then minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said things were under control.

Home Minister Saifudin Nasution Ismail appears to agree with Tuan Ibrahim.

On December 16 last year, 31 people, including children, died in a landslide at a campsite in Batang Kali.

Thousands were displaced in massive floods on the east coast and in Sabah and Sarawak. Several states on the peninsula were also hit by flash floods in November.

Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has said that he is working on severa initiatives to address climate change. 

Covid-19

Are we truly done with the deadly virus? With Chinese tourists allowed to travel overseas again, there are fears they could bring the virus into our shores.  

Is the government ready for a new wave of Covid-19? Will it enforce new restrictions or even lockdowns to counter the outbreak?

If that happens, 2023 will be a hard year for all. – January 1, 2023.