Anwar's broken promises spark new protests

>>KUALA LUMPUR: 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.

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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.

The Malaysian prime minister on Wednesday unveiled a onetime stimulus package worth about 2.8 billion ringgit (21.5 billion baht) with cash handouts and lower fuel prices. He called it an “appreciation package,” but the timing is hard to ignore.