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By Mihar Dias November 2024
So, demure is the word of the year?
A fascinating choice for 2024, one might say. It evokes images of subtlety, modesty, and quiet elegance. Traits, I dare say, that Instagram influencers have turned into an aesthetic art form, complete with perfectly curated #OOTD shots in muted tones, eyes cast downward, and captions like “Lost in my thoughts, but not in my style.” The world swoons.
And now, I wonder—could our beloved Prime Minister, PMX, Anwar Ibrahim, fit into this demure mold? Stay with me on this.
First, the Instagram checklist. Demure demands an understated wardrobe, which Anwar almost nails with his no-nonsense, sharply tailored baju Melayu and minimalist accessories (read: zero handbags, unlike certain First Ladies we might name).
But the subtlety ends when he opens his mouth. Anwar’s speeches, whether about reformasi, budget allocations, or reminding us that he spent years behind bars for the rakyat, are not exactly Instagram-caption-ready. "Keadilan! Demi rakyat, kita bangkit!" just doesn’t pair well with sepia filters and artisanal latte art.
Second, body language. Demure requires a calm, almost Mona Lisa-esque stillness. Here, Anwar falls spectacularly short. Watch him in Parliament or on stage—those hand gestures! That fiery tone! The dramatic pauses! He exudes more Shakespearean thespian than a quiet, contemplative influencer who could rival Emma Chamberlain.
And then there’s the issue of modesty, another cornerstone of demureness. Anwar has had his moments of humility—“I am a servant of the people,” he’ll remind us—but let’s not forget the occasional self-promotion. (Remember when he posed with Elon Musk on Zoom and declared Malaysia the next hub for Tesla? Bold words, demure actions.) But modesty can also be weaponized. The demure Instagrammer knows this well, balancing self-pity posts about “ugly days” with selfies so flawless they’d make even the Mona Lisa look like a rough sketch.
And now, dear Malaysians, let’s entertain the idea of Anwar himself embracing this word fully. Imagine him launching an Instagram account titled @DemurePM (because @ReformasiKing was taken). The posts would showcase him pensively sipping kopi O at roadside stalls, wearing a batik shirt that costs less than RM50, and captioned “Leading with grace, one rakyat at a time.” The internet would lose its collective mind.
Of course, this transformation would raise questions. Could the fiery reformer of the past turn into a PM who demurely sidesteps accountability for policy failures?
Could he gently deflect attention from his own government’s shortcomings with a simple “This is a team effort”? Could he become the quiet, understated counterpoint to Zahid Hamidi, whose scandals scream louder than a mamak’s midnight football crowd?
Probably not. But it’s fun to imagine. So as the world celebrates demure in 2024, let us all ponder what it would mean for our leaders to embrace this quality. And if Anwar Ibrahim does decide to give it a try, he might just inspire a new trend: #DemureDemocracy. Whether it’s reformasi or Instagram captions, one thing’s for sure—Malaysia will never be subtle.#Demure Reformasi
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