Malaysians have been urged to carefully consider whether Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should be held responsible for all the grievances voiced by protesters during last week’s rally.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing attributed the country’s current challenges to the poor governance of previous administrations led by Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin, accusing them of leaving the nation’s finances in disarray—problems that Anwar’s unity government has since had to address.
Tiong noted that Anwar’s administration assumed office in November 2022, at a time when Malaysia was still recovering from the severe economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Tiong, the mismanagement under the previous governments resulted in foreign investors withdrawing, multiple projects being cancelled, and national assets being sold off. He added in a Facebook post that several financial expenditures with unclear accountability had also occurred before Anwar took office, further straining the country’s coffers.
“The current government has been forced to bear the burden of rectifying these mistakes. Addressing these issues takes time, and results cannot be expected overnight,” he said. “I urge all Malaysians, regardless of race, to reflect carefully. A united society cannot emerge from extreme expressions of dissatisfaction; such actions only lead to an uncertain future.”
Tiong, who is Bintulu MP and president of the Progressive Democratic Party, stressed that Anwar’s administration has focused on stabilising the economy through reforms such as targeted subsidies and prudent fiscal management.
While some of these measures were initially unpopular or politicised, they have begun to yield positive results, including higher tourist arrivals and benefits to small businesses as well as lower-income groups.
He also cautioned that frequent anti-government protests, such as the one held last Saturday, could deter tourists and foreign investors by creating the perception of ongoing political instability and unrest in the country.
