Never a dull moment: Anwar juggles wins, douses domestic fires

Malaysia's PM has hit high notes on world stage, while tackling several big challenges at home

- Hazlin Hassan

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been on a political roller-coaster ride of late: playing mediator successfully in an Asean border conflict, and engaging proactively with the US on trade talks while dealing with internal party rifts, a re-energised opposition and a tricky state election in Sabah.

While Datuk Seri Anwar has been hitting the high notes on the world stage, he has had to tackle domestic fires on several fronts: an unprecedented leadership vacuum in the nation's judiciary that stirred public concerns over the state of the courts and its independence, coupled with mounting discontent over rising living costs and a perceived lack of reform by the current unity government.

In the face of these concerns, a new chief justice was appointed and economic measures unveiled to curb cost-of-living worries ahead of a street protest on July 26 in Kuala Lumpur which drew thousands, calling for Mr Anwar to step down.

Two months before this, the Prime Minister managed to keep at bay an internal revolt led by former Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who was replaced by Mr Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar during the internal party polls.

But as Malaysia's 10th prime minister, or PMX, enters the third of his five-year term in November, analysts say he has to quicken the pace to satisfy voter demand on long-promised reforms and governance, and come up with better solutions to manage the prices of basic goods and services.

"Anwar Ibrahim is wrestling to consolidate his power for a second term," said Ms Bridget Welsh, honorary research associate at the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute-Malaysia. "The halfway mark is a trigger to ratchet up voter engagement."

Malaysia's next general election must be held by February 2028.