Malaysia’s Anwar traded reform for power. Now Umno wants it all
The roar from thousands of People’s Justice Party (PKR) delegates gathered at a grand convention centre in Melaka last weekend exuded all the confidence expected of a party leading Malaysia’s government. The past three years have been the culmination of more than two decades of struggle for PKR, with it finally achieving its long-held goal of installing leader Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister and…
The People’s Justice Party (PKR) delegates at their recent convention in Melaka displayed a confident demeanor, as they had achieved their decades-long goal of installing Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister and driving through promised reforms. However, the reality faced by PKR is one of uncertainty and internal struggles. The party's victory in the 2022 general election came at the expense of the reforms they had promised to deliver, as Anwar had little choice but to make compromises with former ruling party Umno to stabilize his administration.
This shift in policies has led to a series of defeats for Anwar's ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition in state elections since November. With PKR members wondering how to reverse the trend and Umno emerging as a significant threat to Anwar's rule, there is a disconnection between Anwar, his party leadership, and the party's rank and file.
During last weekend's congress, Anwar's speech received a lukewarm response from delegates who were eager for a clear sense of direction. It was only when addressing a scandal at the Tabung Haji pilgrim fund that the crowd responded with enthusiasm, clearly indicating the need for a cohesive message from the prime minister and PH to counter Umno and its partnership with the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
