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SHAH ALAM - Political party Muda has warned that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim risks being remembered as the leader who rescued kleptocrats rather than as a reform hero, unless his government delivers on long-promised institutional reforms.
In a statement today, Muda said history will not remember Anwar as a reform hero if the failure to deliver reform continues.
"He will instead be remembered as a leader willing to trade principle for power, ultimately allowing kleptocratic practices to continue," the party said.
Muda said Pakatan Harapan's original mandate rested on the 1MDB scandal, arguing that voters backed the coalition in the belief it would fight corruption, end abuse of power and bring those behind the country's biggest financial scandal to justice.
"The people rejected kleptocracy in the hope that a clean government could be formed," it said.
The party argued that this mandate has since been diluted under the "Unity Government", accusing Pakatan Harapan of distributing political positions and privileges to allied parties to secure a comfortable parliamentary majority.
It said this was framed as a necessary compromise for stability, economic continuity and to avoid a prolonged political crisis, adding that "in the name of the Unity Government, the coalition's founding principles have begun to loosen."
Muda said posts, allocations and privileges have been handed out liberally to political allies, while those raising concerns have been sidelined and silenced.
"It is deeply regrettable that facilities and power are being distributed to appease political allies, while grassroots voices, activists and principled critics are increasingly silenced, as though constructive criticism is now seen as a threat to the administration," it said.
The party questioned whether the coalition has become little more than "a lifeline to preserve the survival of certain political elites", while the substantive reform agenda is sacrificed and left neglected.
Muda called on the government to use its remaining term to deliver the institutional reforms promised on the campaign trail.
"The government can no longer make excuses about being tied to component parties or bureaucracy, because the call for reform has been the party's campaign capital for decades. The people want political action, not empty rhetoric," it said.
Among its demands, the party urged the government to strengthen freedom of expression and checks and balances, and to repeal or fix outdated, draconian laws.
It called for institutions such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Attorney General's Chambers to be separated from and fully guaranteed independence from, executive interference, saying "outdated laws restricting civil liberties must be amended or abolished immediately, without delay."