
Azalina: Madani reforms making real progress, not just rhetoric
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's reform agenda is showing tangible results and progressing through a structured, deliberate process.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the reforms will, however, take time.
She said she agreed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he said reforms cannot be rushed and emphasised that change must be carefully planned and implemented.
"He's certainly right in stating that reform is not a sprint but a structured, deliberate process," she said in a statement.
Yesterday, Anwar, responding to criticisms over the pace of reform, said efforts must be grounded in political reality, particularly in a coalition government that does not command a simple majority.
His remarks came days after PKR backbencher Wong Chen had said he would take a two-week break to reflect on his political future.
The Subang MP had also voiced concern that the government could reach the end of its term with little to show in terms of institutional reforms.
However, Azalina stressed that the government has already delivered key milestones.
"I must firmly remind both the public and lawmakers that the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), alongside the agencies under our purview, has already delivered the Parliamentary Services Act 2025 and spearheaded more than 30 legal amendments since 2023.
"This is not mere rhetoric. It is concrete evidence that the Madani reform agenda is very much alive and advancing."
Azalina added that systemic reform was never instantaneous, and for good reason.
"As policymakers, we must ensure that every reform is not only ambitious but also implementable. There is no wisdom in putting the cart before the horse.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Anwar hopes Rafizi, Nik Nazmi, reconsider decision to quit Cabinet
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had only approved the leave of two ministers at this time. PETALING JAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he hopes the two ministers who recently submitted their resignation letters will reconsider their decisions. In a Bernama report, Anwar said while he had received the leave applications and resignation letters from the duo, he had only approved their applications to go on leave. '…Let them think about it. Personally, I would prefer that they remain in the Cabinet,' he said. On May 28, economy minister Rafizi Ramli and natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad submitted their resignation letters. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) then issued a statement acknowledging their resignation letters but did not state if their resignations had been accepted. 'Any further decision on the matter will be informed later by the prime minister,' the statement read. Rafizi is on leave until June 16 while Nik Nazmi's leave ends on July 3. Nik Nazmi, a two-term MP, failed to defend his position as PKR vice-president at the party's divisional polls. He was Rafizi's running mate. Rafizi lost the PKR deputy president's post to Nurul Izzah Anwar. Anwar was speaking to reporters after attending an empowerment seminar and a closed-door meeting with PKR leaders in Melaka today. During the seminar, Anwar, who is also PKR president, called on party members to heal internal rifts and put aside dissatisfaction following its polls last month. He also stressed the need for unity and maturity in pursuit of the party's greater mission. 'Imagine this – I can work with Umno, even hugging it out,' he said. 'Surely we can move past our internal disagreements, too. Let's move on to the bigger agenda.'


The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Govt bears almost half a million Ringgit in cost for Tun Mahathir's trip to Nikkei Conference
MELAKA: The government bears almost half a million ringgit in cost for former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's trip to Japan to attend the annual Nikkei conference last month, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said the government allocated approximately RM486,000 for the visit after receiving a formal application from Tun Dr Mahathir. 'There are existing provisions for former prime ministers to apply (for government support for official travel)...and if the sitting prime minister approves, the government will bear the cost, including for Tun Mahathir, who recently requested to attend the Nikkei conference in Japan. He applied, and I approved. I believe the delegation was around seven people. 'I have people asking me why pay for him. He is entitled to apply, but the decision rests with the sitting prime I decided to approve that RM486,000 for him to go to Japan. 'I just don't want anyone to misunderstand...I just don't want to take a negative attitude. Despite his daily criticisms of the government, we still approved his (travel) application,' Anwar told reporters here today. On May 30, Tun Dr Mahathir was reported to have attended and delivered a speech at the annual Nikkei Future of Asia conference, a platform he has regularly attended over the years. On separate development, Anwar said he is giving time to two Cabinet ministers who recently submitted resignation letters, encouraging them to reconsider their decisions. The Prime Minister said he received the letters from the two ministers applying for leave and resignation, but he had only approved the leave for now. '...Let them think about it. Personally, I would prefer that they rejoin the Cabinet,' he said. The ministers in question - Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad - reportedly submitted their resignations following defeats in recent party elections. The Prime Minister was met after attending an organisational empowerment seminar and a closed-door meeting with PKR leaders here today. Also present were two PKR vice-presidents - Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Datuk Seri R. Ramanan -, secretary-general Senator Fuziah Salleh, Wanita chief Fadhlina Sidek, Youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim and Hang Tuah Jaya division chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin. During the seminar, Anwar called on PKR members to heal internal rifts and put aside dissatisfaction following the party polls last month. He also stressed the need for unity and maturity for the party's greater mission. 'Imagine this - I can work with UMNO, even hugging it out. Surely we can move past our internal disagreements too. Let's move on for the bigger agenda,' he added.


The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Govt bears cost for Tun Mahathir's trip to Nikkei Conference
MELAKA: The government bears almost half a million ringgit in cost for former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's trip to Japan to attend the annual Nikkei conference last month, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said the government allocated approximately RM486,000 for the visit after receiving a formal application from Tun Dr Mahathir. 'There are existing provisions for former prime ministers to apply (for government support for official travel)...and if the sitting prime minister approves, the government will bear the cost, including for Tun Mahathir, who recently requested to attend the Nikkei conference in Japan. He applied, and I approved. I believe the delegation was around seven people. 'I have people asking me why pay for him. He is entitled to apply, but the decision rests with the sitting prime I decided to approve that RM486,000 for him to go to Japan. 'I just don't want anyone to misunderstand...I just don't want to take a negative attitude. Despite his daily criticisms of the government, we still approved his (travel) application,' Anwar told reporters here today. On May 30, Tun Dr Mahathir was reported to have attended and delivered a speech at the annual Nikkei Future of Asia conference, a platform he has regularly attended over the years. On separate development, Anwar said he is giving time to two Cabinet ministers who recently submitted resignation letters, encouraging them to reconsider their decisions. The Prime Minister said he received the letters from the two ministers applying for leave and resignation, but he had only approved the leave for now. '...Let them think about it. Personally, I would prefer that they rejoin the Cabinet,' he said. The ministers in question - Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad - reportedly submitted their resignations following defeats in recent party elections. The Prime Minister was met after attending an organisational empowerment seminar and a closed-door meeting with PKR leaders here today. Also present were two PKR vice-presidents - Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Datuk Seri R. Ramanan -, secretary-general Senator Fuziah Salleh, Wanita chief Fadhlina Sidek, Youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim and Hang Tuah Jaya division chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin. During the seminar, Anwar called on PKR members to heal internal rifts and put aside dissatisfaction following the party polls last month. He also stressed the need for unity and maturity for the party's greater mission. 'Imagine this - I can work with UMNO, even hugging it out. Surely we can move past our internal disagreements too. Let's move on for the bigger agenda,' he added.