Proof is in the pudding
Anwar's institutional reforms sound appetising, but will they deliver?
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Yesterday, during his New Year address, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced four institutional reforms:
Limiting the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of two terms or 10 years (requiring a constitutional amendment).
Separating the roles of attorney-general and public prosecutor to enhance prosecutorial independence.
Establishing an ombudsman institution to allow citizens to file complaints against maladministration, including against high-level officials like the PM.
Enacting a Freedom of Information Act to promote transparency in government decisions and contracts.
Naturally, the reaction to these reforms is that Anwar, after so long, is finally pushing forward with these institutional changes in a move to placate his coalition’s (Pakatan Harapan) core supporters.
But one has to take these things with a grain of salt. Here’s a critical breakdown of each key reform: