PM Anwar needs to push for reforms

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim needs to reform Malaysia so that the political fate that befell UK’s Leader of Opposition does not befall him, said retired DAP veteran Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang.

“Anwar has survived longer than the two previous backdoor Prime Minsters – Muhyiddin Yassin who was Prime Minster for l7 months and Ismail Sabri who was Prime Minster for 13 months,” he said at the launch of Impian Malaysia Gallery yesterday.

“I can understand the concerns of the Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, in his first 20 months in office to secure Malay political support as there is nothing to show if he proves to be a Prime Minister with a shorter span in office than his two predecessors.

“But at the end of his five-year mandate, he must stand on his record of institutional reforms and changes which he had promised as leader of Pakatan Harapan in the 15th General Election if he is not to end up as another Rishi Sunak.

Lim also said the next three years does not only determine Anwar’s premiership but is also a determinant on whether Malaysia can be a world class nation.

“We must learn from the Sungai Bakap by-election. The next three years will be decisive not only determining the outcome of the first Anwar Ibrahim premiership but in determining whether Malaysia can rise to be a great world-class nation or be a failed state.

“For Malaysia to be a great world-class nation, it is essential that we achieve the Malaysian Dream vision – where Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Dayaks or Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Sikhists, Taoists must be united and produce world-class talents and have global mindsets to influence civilisational dialogues to prevent war between the great powers and to build international peace and development.

“We must also return to the moderate compact all communities, religions and states reached in the Malaysian Constitution pledging Malaysia will be a moderate country and while Islam is the official religion, all Malaysians can practice in peace and harmony their religious beliefs.”

Lim also pushed for Malaysia to be a proponent of civilisational dialogue instead of the clash of civilisation theory that was put forth by the late Samuel Huntington in the early 1990s.

Impian Malaysia Gallery was founded on March 28 2021 to commemorate Lim’s 80th birthday. It was moved to Petaling Jaya and reopened yesterday.