Malaysia: Anwar outlines plans for institutional reforms, trusts Dr M to hand over power

• Prime minister-designate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has outlined plans for institutional reforms, including the review of affirmative action for bumiputra.
• In an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, the 71-year-old former deputy prime minister said his role will encompass more once he is an elected lawmaker. “I intend to be in Parliament the latest by Oct 18 through a by-election,” he said.
• He also said he wanted to allow Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad a free hand in running the country.
• Anwar added that he would like to play a “check-and-balance” role by looking at institutional reforms that include a review of the bumiputra policy.
• Anwar said he wants the government to return to the policy’s original objective of alleviating poverty among the bumiputra.
• “The policy, which is race-based and [has been] abused to enrich cronies has to stop,” said Anwar. “The policy that helps the marginalized, minorities and Bumiputras lagging behind has to continue not as a Bumiputra policy but as affirmative actions,” Anwar reiterated.
• Besides the bumiputra policy review, Anwar said improvements could be made in state procurement and the fight against corruption by reforming the anti-graft agency into a truly independent body.
• Anwar is supportive of Dr Mahathir’s revision of Chinese-backed infrastructure projects but acknowledges the need to enhance Malaysia’s relationship with the world’s second-largest economy.
• He also believes Dr Mahathir will keep his promise to hand over power.
• Anwar also advocates tolerance in the multi-ethnic country, which has increasingly turned conservative in recent years.
• Malaysian society, he said, must live with different beliefs and ways of life and must respect people who are different, including gays, bisexuals and transgenders.

External Link: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/08/28/anwar-outlines-plans-for-institutional-reforms/

External Link: https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Malaysia-s-PM-designate-Anwar-backs-review-of-Malay-privileges