Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli has warned that strong economic indicators and policy announcements will carry little weight with the public unless they are matched by genuine reforms on the ground, particularly in law enforcement and governance.
In a statement, Rafizi said that while macroeconomic figures show positive trends - including rising investment, solid growth, and a strengthening currency - many Malaysians do not feel these gains in their daily lives.
As a result, he said, such achievements are easily dismissed as political messaging rather than meaningful progress.
“That is why, when a reformist government wants to choose which reforms matter most, it has to think about what sits highest in people’s minds. Not what looks good on paper. Not announcements that sound sophisticated.
“At the very top is the freedom of enforcement institutions. People want to see proper appointments. They want to see an independent prosecution. They want to see the courage to charge and jail senior leaders,” the former PKR deputy president said on his X account.
The Pandan MP also noted that public perception of anti-corruption efforts has deteriorated over time, as several high-profile cases appeared to stall, ending in discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) or being dropped altogether. He, however, stopped short of explicitly naming anyone.
‘Circumstances have changed’
Earlier today, amid criticism for declaring no further action (NFA) on 47 corruption charges involving Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar today stressed that he did not come to the decision lightly.
Speaking to reporters after attending the Opening of the Legal Year 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Dusuki compared the AG’s Chambers’ (AGC) decision in Zahid’s case with other cases convicted by a lower court but were later reviewed on appeal.
Dusuki reiterated that while the High Court had ordered Zahid to enter his defence, further investigations based on six additional representations found that the case linked to Yayasan Akalbudi has been “diluted”.
“We used our powers under the law; that was the prima facie basis.
“But when we looked again through further investigations, we found many flows of money. That is the main issue.
“That (further investigations) caused the earlier case called for defence to be ‘diluted’. So, we exercised our powers. There is no need for us to continue because circumstances have changed,” said Dusuki.
On Jan 8, the AGC declared it would not pursue the charges and referred to detailed investigations carried out by MACC covering aspects related to the source of funds, methods of acquisition, and the use of the funds concerned in making the decision.
After the AGC’s decision that no further action would be taken in relation to his criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering charges, Zahid’s lawyer announced that he would now seek a full acquittal over the 47 charges relating to Yayasan Akalbudi’s funds.
Repeated pattern defeats important reform plans
Rafizi, however, lamented that when such patterns keep repeating, they undermine the government’s reform agenda and weaken public trust.
“When that pattern keeps repeating, announcements like term limits for the prime minister, the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, or an ombudsman lose their impact.
“People will say this is all negotiation within the government. One side gets the announcements. Another side gets their cases settled. As long as the most basic part does not change - truly independent and consistent enforcement - macroeconomic figures will struggle to become public confidence,” Rafizi added. - Mkini
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