Anwar doing well despite challenges, says Umno veteran

 

In an exclusive interview, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah told FMT that many of the reforms promised by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim can only be implemented after deep analysis into existing problems.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah says Anwar Ibrahim has performed “quite well” as prime minister despite facing significant challenges in managing the country’s economy.

Tengku Razaleigh, or Ku Li as he is popularly known, said Anwar’s main problem lies in the economy, which has been hampered by a depreciating ringgit and rising inflation.

“The cost of living has gone up. Even in rural areas, you have to import goods,” the Kelantan prince, who served as finance minister from 1976 to 1984, said in an exclusive interview with FMT.

“You have to buy things from here (Kuala Lumpur) and bring (them) to Gua Musang. Because it costs a lot of money, the people feel it.”

The former eight-term Gua Musang MP said one of Anwar’s major challenges since taking office in November 2022 has been the ringgit’s slump.

In February, the local currency’s US dollar exchange rate briefly breached the RM4.80 mark, its weakest level since the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997.

On Tuesday, Anwar told the Global Forum on Islamic Economics and Finance that the exchange rate had recovered to a “good level” at RM4.69, strengthening in tandem with an improving economy which grew to 4.2% in Q1 this year, from 2.9% in the previous quarter.

Tengku Razaleigh also noted that the prime minister’s administration has been criticised for the slow pace of reforms promised when Anwar led the opposition prior to the 15th general election.

Apart from “one or two” achievements, he said Anwar’s administration has largely failed to deliver on the “Reformasi” agenda he once championed with great conviction.

However, Ku Li said that may be because many of the proposed reforms require deep analysis.

“You really have to talk to people. You have to really understand the problem. Why it is like that, you know?

“And if you want to reform, you have to make sure that (the new) approaches (effectively address the existing) problems.”

Tengku Razaleigh also said the delay in implementing reforms may be attributable to the prime minister’s extensive responsibilities.

Anwar cannot be expected to tackle everything simultaneously, he said.

“Most of these people (in Anwar’s Cabinet) are new to the government, (although) others are more adept to the way things happen, or are done, in government,” he said. - FMT