Reform agenda takes shape as government pushes ahead with wider changes
THE reform agenda pursued by the Madani government is already taking effect in several areas, from public spending and parliamentary administration to the delivery of government services, although some of the more ambitious changes will take longer t...
The Madani government, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has been actively pursuing a reform agenda across various sectors. Some reforms, such as strengthening public spending, parliamentary administration, and service delivery, have already begun to take effect. However, more ambitious changes, like amending the Federal Constitution for a 10-year limit on prime minister tenures or separating the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor roles, will require longer legislative processes.
Key initiatives include the strengthening of the National Audit Department (JAN), which can now audit a broader range of entities due to amendments in the Audit Act 1957. JAN adopts a "follow the public money" approach, allowing audits to trace how funds are used and identify potential financial irregularities or fraud. Parliament also saw a major reform with the passing of the Parliamentary Service Act 2025, which strengthens Parliament as an independent institution.
Financial reform is evident through the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023, which sets out requirements for transparency and budget-related reporting. The Special Task Force on Agency Reform (STAR) works to identify and simplify bureaucratic hurdles in public-sector delivery. However, reforms like repealing the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 aim to give students more freedom in higher education and are part of plans for a One Higher Education Act.
Another significant reform, the Malaysian Media Council (MMM), took decades to materialize. The MMM Bill 2024, passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 26, 2025, is intended to strengthen the media profession and promote self-regulation. The government has also maintained a targeted subsidy system to ensure assistance reaches eligible Malaysians while preventing foreign nationals from benefiting.
As of July 31, more than 14.2 million eligible individuals had benefited from the subsidized fuel, with total consumption exceeding 13.4 billion liters.
Written by urgent.news from The Vibes's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
