Advertisement
Malaysia election 2022
This Week in AsiaPolitics

Malaysia’s new PM Anwar Ibrahim ‘can’t afford to be distracted’ amid economic woes, US-China rivalry, analysts say

  • Malaysia’s new PM Anwar described ties with China as ‘pivotal’ and said he hoped to enhance ties with Beijing, the US and other partners
  • Experts say that while Anwar was previously seen as ‘pro-West’, the veteran politician is likely to take a more balanced approach as PM

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
4
New Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim waves as he arrives at the National Palace on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Hadi AzmiandJoseph Sipalan
Malaysia’s king on Thursday appointed reformist icon Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, a decision that ended a protracted post-election impasse and capped one of the most remarkable turnarounds for a politician in modern Southeast Asian history.
Advertisement
Over three decades, Anwar had gone from the country’s number two leader to a protest leader, a prisoner convicted of sodomy and corruption, opposition chief, and now prime minister.

“After taking into consideration the views of their royal highnesses the Malay rulers, His Majesty has given consent to appoint Anwar Ibrahim as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia,” read a statement from the palace.

02:59

From prison to Malaysia’s new leader: Anwar Ibrahim appointed to top seat

From prison to Malaysia’s new leader: Anwar Ibrahim appointed to top seat
The constitutional monarch, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, had sought a special meeting with the country’s hereditary sultans after two days of speaking with Anwar, his rival Muhyiddin Yassin and other key political players, to find a way forward following the emergence of a hung parliament after Saturday’s election.

The king had been forced to play troubleshooter amid acrimony between the various camps, with Muhyiddin flatly rebuffing the monarch’s suggestion to form a unity government with Anwar’s bloc. Sultan Abdullah urged all sides to cool the political temperature following his appointment of Anwar.

Anwar, 75, is Malaysia’s fifth prime minister since 2018, reflecting the country’s rollercoaster politics since elections that year.
Advertisement

“His royal highness reminds all parties that the winners do not win all, and the losers do not lose everything,” he said in the palace statement. “Reach out your hands to each other and come together as members of the Dewan Rakyat [parliament] for the future of our beloved nation.”

Advertisement