Anwar not moving with the times, says political observer

A political observer says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appears to be stuck in the past, relying on slogans and narratives from his heyday in the 1990s as second in command to then leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said Anwar and his advisers did not seem to appreciate the differences in society that had taken place since then. 

"Society is becoming more diverse," he said. "By 2018, there were divisions such as T20, M20 and B40 that were not clear in 1998. 

"But his slogans, messages, and speeches have not changed throughout the years." 

He gave the example of the Malaysia Madani slogan used by Anwar's government, saying the concept had actually been introduced as early as 1992. 

Back then, Shamsul said, the main division had been between the Malay and non-Malay communities.

While the Madani concept was now accepted by the non-Malays, he said it could backfire among the Malays.

"The majority of the Malays are uncomfortable with it," Shamsul, of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Institute of Ethnic Studies, added. 

"In this matter, Anwar is stuck between the Malays and the non-Malays."

Shamsul also referred to the government's recent move to drop its appeal against the "Allah" verdict, as well as the plan to expand the role of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department or Jakim. 

"All this, supposedly done under inclusivity," he said. 

The "Allah" controversy was reignited after the home ministry withdrew its appeal against a High Court ruling allowing non-Muslims to use the word in their religious publications. 

The decision came under fire from Muslim groups, while the very next month, Anwar was criticised for wanting to expand the role of Jakim, a body often criticised by left-wing and liberal groups. 

Shamsul said there appeared to be a gap between Anwar's politics and the people's understanding of major issues.

He said the narrative of inclusivity had also affected Umno, long seen as synonymous with the Malay-Muslim struggle. 

"Now it has to work with DAP, and to see Malays and non-Malays as equals, as DAP does," he said.