
Ramasamy peeps into his crystal ball to ascertain if Madani unity gov't can last one full term
Headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the government is increasingly seen as struggling to live up to its reformist promises.
The idea of it extending its tenure beyond this term appears increasingly remote. What are the reasons behind this deepening unpopularity?
Firstly, despite grand pronouncements, Anwar's administration has largely failed to initiate the institutional and structural reforms once promised.
Piecemeal or cosmetic changes are no substitute for the substantive transformation the public expected. Reform has become a diluted term, often used to mask inaction or minimal effort.
Secondly, the 'Reformasi' movement – once a rallying cry for justice and transparency – appears to have been co-opted for electoral gains.
Now in power, PH's commitment to reform seems more rhetorical than real. The moral fire that once defined the movement has dimmed, only to b replaced by political expediency.
Madani set-up in shambles
Thirdly, Anwar's government was formed through a precarious coalition with BN and regional parties.
However, he has failed to persuade key partners – particularly UMNO – of the urgency of national reforms. Leveraging the outdated BN framework, UMNO is focused more on reclaiming its past dominance than supporting structural change.
Fourthly, the political coalitions from Sabah and Sarawak have their own definitions of reform, largely tied to state rights and autonomy rather than national transformation. Their goals rarely align with those of PH, hence making cohesive reform efforts nearly impossible.
Fifthly, the absence of a shared understanding of what reforms are necessary is a fundamental problem. What PH envisions as reform is not necessarily what BN or East Malaysian parties deem important. This lack of consensus has led to policy paralysis.
Sixthly, Anwar should have anticipated that leading such a diverse and often contradictory coalition would complicate any reform agenda. The reality of governing such a disparate group has proven far more difficult than the idealism projected while in opposition.
Seventhly, Anwar as PM lacks the strategic clarity and political capital required to implement reforms. It was easier to advocate for change from the opposition benches than to navigate the constraints of governance. Even if sincere, he cannot galvanise his partners into action.
Eighthly, UMNO despite holding fewer parliamentary seats wields disproportionate influence in the unity government. As the sole Malay party providing political legitimacy, it can dictate terms. This has effectively hamstrung reform, creating a situation of political inertia.
Ninthly, the government's unpopularity is not just due to unmet reform promises. Ordinary Malaysians are struggling with rising costs, new taxes and stagnant wages.
While Anwar boasts of billions in foreign direct investment (FDIs), the public sees little tangible benefit – prompting twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad referencing that as 'invisible' investments.
Tenthly, there is a growing disconnect between Anwar's international image and his domestic actions.
While presenting himself as a liberal to the West, his domestic politics are often framed through ethnic and religious lenses. For Chinese and Indian communities, his concern appears limited to securing their votes rather than addressing their concerns.
In essence, the Madani government – once held up as a symbol of reform and unity – is faltering under the weight of its own contradictions.
Unless it re-discovers its reformist soul and forges a real consensus among coalition partners, its chances of surviving the full term – let alone securing a future mandate – remain bleak. – July 7, 2025
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook

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


New Straits Times
15 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Anwar: Defence deals now strictly G2G to prevent graft
KUALA LUMPUR: The Madani government remains consistent in its efforts to combat corruption, even with the procurement of defence systems now conducted on a Government-to-Government (G2G) basis without the involvement of agents or commissions, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said the government recently held discussions with France and Italy to ensure transparency in defence procurement deals. "This is unheard of, because procurement of weapons has historically been one of the most corrupt areas, where people steal money. "So, what is our basic principle? Go directly government to government, and avoid this manner of taking or squandering money through so-called commissions," he said in an interview on France 24, published on the network's online platform today. Speaking in the 'Tête-à-tête' programme hosted by Marc Perelman, Anwar was asked about allegations that he was pursuing a political vendetta against former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his family via investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Anwar responded that anti-corruption probes have been conducted transparently involving many leaders, including those aligned with the government coalition and Sabah state assemblymen, among others. "It's not about whether someone is a former finance minister or prime minister, it doesn't matter. The question is how did you get these billions? The children themselves have declared under oath that they have more than a billion…. "...I believe it is my duty to ensure that this kind of corruption stops. Secondly, any funds stolen from the people must be returned, we want to improve our schools, we want to help the poor," he said. Anwar, who is now attending the BRICS Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro, had previously embarked on his working visits to Rome, Italy, and Paris, France, since July 1, before arriving in the Brazilian city on Saturday. - BERNAMA


New Straits Times
15 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Anwar slams US-Israel strike on Iran as 'wrong move'
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed his concern over the joint United States-Israel bombing of Iran's main nuclear sites last month following the Gaza conflict, calling it a wrong move that disregards diplomacy and the resilience of the Iranian people. In an interview with France 24 published on the network's digital platforms today, the Prime Minister emphasised that resolving the Gaza issue required multilateral and fair negotiations. "I wasn't terribly pleased because I think the way forward is only through negotiations. They (the US) have tried to destroy Iran too many times and you should never ignore the people's resilience," Anwar said. "It failed to account for the resilience, capacity and tenacity of the Iranian people. What we welcome, of course, is a ceasefire," he added. Commenting on Western nations' demands – including France's – for Iran to abandon its nuclear programme, Anwar stressed that such calls must be fair and consistent. "If they want non-proliferation with the understanding that nuclear technology shouldn't be weaponised, that's fair. But it must be applied consistently. These contradictions and hypocrisy have become too apparent, and people no longer accept them," he said. "This isn't the imperialist or colonial era where you can dictate terms. There must be fairness – why impose restrictions on Iran but not Israel? Why these double standards?" Anwar questioned. When asked about his decision to contact Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh after Oct 7, 2023, the Prime Minister said it was in support of a ceasefire initiative, not violence, and stressed that some Western leaders were completely blinded to the atrocities for decades. Anwar explained he had met Hamas leaders to facilitate dialogue through Qatar, Egypt and the US, adding that there was nothing wrong with pursuing a peace deal through negotiation. "I was not there to provoke violence, but to support dialogue. But I won't be a lackey who condemns Hamas while remaining silent on Israel's actions," he said. On criticism that he has been more vocal on Gaza than the war in Ukraine, Anwar rejected claims of double standards by saying that Malaysia has expressed its position clearly, including having spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin to pursue negotiations. "He told me, he's prepared, but don't dictate. I don't represent anyone. We come from a different region and smaller country, but as a friend, I urge him to then seek some sort of an amicable, peaceful resolution of the conflict," said Anwar. - BERNAMA


New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
PM leads charge for inclusive global economy at BRICS
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is leading efforts to strengthen strategic investments and global economic cooperation through a series of bilateral meetings and active participation in the 17th BRICS Summit. He held meetings with leaders of nations including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as well as World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The discussions focused on, among others, expanding cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, digital technology, renewable energy, as well as the halal and aerospace industries. Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian economist who has served as the WTO director-general since March 2021 and is the first woman and African to lead the organisation as director-general. Meanwhile, at the summit, Anwar stressed Malaysia's commitment to the principles of multilateralism and economic justice, as well as supporting WTO reforms to be more inclusive and responsive to future challenges such as AI and digital trade. As Asean chair, he called for fair and ethical global cooperation and rejected divisive geopolitics, emphasising the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) governance based on universal values for sustainable development and shared prosperity. Anwar arrived in Rio De Janeiro on Saturday to attend the 17th BRICS Leaders' Summit hosted by Brazil. Malaysia is participating in the summit in its capacity as a BRICS partner country and the Asean 2025 chair.