A string of dropped corruption cases in Malaysia has raised questions over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's commitment to fighting graft, with lawmakers and analysts warning it could risk alienating voters, deepen divisions within the ruling coalition, and jeopardise his reform agenda. Read more at straitstimes.com.
KUALA LUMPUR - A string of dropped corruption cases in Malaysia has raised questions over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's commitment to fighting graft, with lawmakers and analysts warning it could risk alienating voters, deepen divisions within the ruling coalition, and jeopardise his reform agenda.
But Anwar now faces accusations, including from his own party, of betraying progressive voters and allies, after state prosecutors this month dropped 47 charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and failed to appeal against the acquittal of former premier Najib Razak in a 1MDB-linked case.
"Anwar is concerned more about the survival of his government and his power rather than the reform agenda that he had promised to the people," he told Reuters.Ahmad Zahid and Najib, who is serving a 12-year jail sentence on separate 1MDB charges, are both from the once-dominant United Malays National Organisation that Anwar has long campaigned against.
Malaysians are also watching to see if Najib could get any reprieve. Najib has sought a royal pardon over his conviction and requested other charges that he faces to be reviewed.