Anwar’s Broken Promises Spark Protests Demanding His Ouster

Anwar IbrahimPhotographer: Samsul Said/Bloomberg

When Anwar Ibrahim came to power in late 2022, it was with the promise of reform: cleaner government, a leaner budget and a break from the patronage politics that had defined his predecessors.

Nearly three years later, not much of that has happened. His plans for targeted subsidies and reduced public spending have largely given way to quick fixes and political compromises.