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By Mihar Dias February 2026
If Malaysian politics were a TV drama, it would not be shown on Netflix. It would be on Astro Ceria — full of melodrama, endless flashbacks, recycled villains and characters who swear this time the story will change, only to deliver the same plot every season.
Enter our latest episode starring Rafizi Ramli, Professor Tajuddin Rashidi and the ever-present central character: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim — the man who chased Putrajaya longer than most Malaysians queue for affordable housing. https://focusmalaysia.my/rafizi-tajuddin-and-the-question-of-anwars-obsession-with-power/ Rafizi recently committed the political equivalent of calling the emperor naked by suggesting Anwar was once “obsessed” with becoming prime minister. https://focusmalaysia.my/rafizi-tajuddin-and-the-question-of-anwars-obsession-with-power/
Obsessed.
Not ambitious.
Not determined.
Not “reformasi-driven”.
Obsessed.
Naturally, this triggered Professor Tajuddin Rashidi, now less an academic analyst and more Anwar’s unofficial emotional support columnist. https://focusmalaysia.my/rafizi-tajuddin-and-the-question-of-anwars-obsession-with-power/ According to Tajuddin, Rafizi was being “unkind”. https://focusmalaysia.my/rafizi-tajuddin-and-the-question-of-anwars-obsession-with-power/
In Malaysian politics, “unkind” is the new treason.
Criticise corruption — fine.
Expose scandals — acceptable.
But say the PM wanted power too badly — “kurang ajar.”
Tajuddin even suggested that if Rafizi has nothing nice to say, he should “wither away from politics”. https://focusmalaysia.my/rafizi-tajuddin-and-the-question-of-anwars-obsession-with-power/ Which is rich coming from a man who pops up every other week to defend Anwar like a human press release.
One almost expects his next column to begin with:
“Dear Anwar, ignore the haters. You’re doing great sweetie.”
Former DAP stalwart Prof Ramasamy, however, was having none of this academic fanboy behaviour. https://focusmalaysia.my/rafizi-tajuddin-and-the-question-of-anwars-obsession-with-power/
He basically reminded Tajuddin that Rafizi — loud, clumsy and occasionally more talk than action — at least spent years inside PKR’s inner circle. https://focusmalaysia.my/rafizi-tajuddin-and-the-question-of-anwars-obsession-with-power/
In political terms, Rafizi slept in the same political trenches as Anwar.
Tajuddin, meanwhile, seems to have joined the cheering squad sometime after Anwar finally got the crown.
Late convert. Early defender.
Ramasamy’s real bombshell, though, was not about Rafizi.
It was about all of us.
Like many Malaysians, he once believed Anwar the oppressed reformer would become Anwar the transformative prime minister.
Instead, after more than three years in office, the reform cupboard appears emptier than a Ramadan bazaar at 8pm.
Ramasamy’s painful realisation?
Anwar may have worn the reformer costume just long enough to get the role of PM. https://focusmalaysia.my/rafizi-tajuddin-and-the-question-of-anwars-obsession-with-power/
Once the role was secured — cut! Scene over. Roll credits.
Reforms?
What reforms?
Structural change?
Maybe next term.
Institutional overhaul?
Let’s form another committee.
In hindsight, Ramasamy suggests, reformasi was less a mission and more a campaign slogan.
Like “Janji ditepati”.
Or “Malaysia Boleh”.
Or “Road to Gold”.
Nice on banners. Light on results.
And now Tajuddin wants us to believe Anwar was never obsessed with power.
Let’s be honest.
This man waited:
✔ Through sackings
✔ Through prison
✔ Through betrayals
✔ Through political musical chairs
✔ Through Mahathir 2.0
If persistence were an Olympic sport, Anwar would have more gold medals than our entire contingent.
But obsession?
Oh no.
He was just… casually interested.
Like Malaysians “casually” interested in cheap petrol.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be prime minister.
Every politician wants power.
That’s like opening a durian stall because you hate durian.
The problem is when power becomes the destination — and reform merely the Uber ride to get there.
Once you arrive, you give the driver one star and walk away.
Ramasamy nails it when he says previous prime ministers never promised sweeping reforms.
They took power honestly — through old-school politics, patronage and promises of stability.
Anwar, however, sold Malaysians a revolution.
Now we’ve received a renovation — and not even a full one. More like repainting the walls while the roof still leaks.
So is Rafizi wrong to say Anwar was obsessed?
Hardly.
If anything, Malaysians should thank him for stating the obvious.
The tragedy isn’t the obsession.
The tragedy is what happened after the obsession was satisfied.
Once the dream chair was finally warmed, urgency cooled faster than nasi lemak left out during a blackout.
And Professor Tajuddin?
Once upon a time, he was known for sharp analysis.
Today, he sounds like that uncle at family dinners who defends his favourite politician no matter what.
“Anwar knows best.”
“He suffered before.”
“You don’t understand his sacrifices.”
Yes, yes — suffering is real.
But suffering alone does not automatically produce good governance.
If that were the case, half the country would be prime minister by now.
Ramasamy may sound bitter. Rafizi may sound blunt.
But sometimes bitterness and bluntness are just reality without sugar coating.
Anwar Ibrahim may well go down in history — but perhaps not as the great reformer Malaysians were promised.
More likely as the man who finally reached the summit… and then decided the view was enough.
As for obsession?
Let’s put it this way:
Some politicians chase power to change the system.
Others chase power because power is the prize.
Malaysians are slowly realising which category Anwar belongs to.
And no amount of professorial scolding will change that.
In the end, Rafizi said the quiet part out loud.
Ramasamy confirmed what many feel.
And Tajuddin is left angrily waving his academic ruler at reality.
In Malaysian politics, obsession got Anwar into office.
Disappointment is what may define his legacy.
Cue next episode.
Same drama.
Same actors.
Different excuses.
Mihar Dias (mihardias@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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