AS he steps into his second year in office, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has promised that the unity government will be firmer in developing the country’s economy.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the unity government’s first year was used to stabilise the country and solve the people’s basic issues. 

“The first year, we steered this boat. At the beginning, it was a little rough but thank God with a clear policy, we solved the basic problems of the people,” Anwar said in a thanksgiving prayer in Putrajaya, held in conjunction with the first anniversary of the Madani government. 

“This coming year, we will start more firmly and be clearer to develop the national economy and we are ready to face any constraints, resistance, or attempts to damage our country by those abusing power and corruption,” the Pakatan Harapan chairman added. 

Anwar admitted that the unity government’s first year showed weaknesses in governance. 

Despite receiving positive feedback from the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Inland Revenue Board, and ensuring adherence to a good governance process, those weaknesses were not completely resolved, he said.  

He noted that the government had followed proper procedures in running the country and its leadership had kept a clean record.  

He also hoped that with the current political stability, there would not be any attempt to seize power and that the present government could complete a full term. 

“Alhamdulillah, politics is stable and pray that for the next four years until the next election, there will be no administrative interference,” Anwar said.

He added confidently that in another two or three years, the unity government would make Malaysia the greatest country in the region.

The unity government was formed in November last year after a tightly contested general election that had no clear winner and produced the nation’s first-ever hung parliament. 

Anwar later gained the backing of lawmakers from Barisan Nasional as well as parties from Sabah and Sarawak. 

He now enjoys a strong two-thirds majority in parliament with 151 MPs backing him, including four from Bersatu. – November 23, 2023.