tumpang sekole...?: Endemic corruption is making his life difficult...

Anwar: Time needed to reform governance and economy,blames previous leaders for 'systemic corruption'...

Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to reform the country's economy and governance though these "will take time", as he blames the systemic corruption and the public cynicism towards political leaders on previous administrations for enriching themselves and living "exorbitant lifestyles".

In an interview with CNA in Singapore on Wednesday (Sep 13), Mr Anwar said Malaysia cannot continue its "total dependence on obsolete policies" of distributing handouts and subsidies, adding that it is "no longer tenable" for the current economy, as he identified economic reforms in the renewable energy sector.

On improving governance, he stated his determination to ensure Malaysia becomes a "mature, responsible" democracy with clear separation of powers between the executive and judiciary, even as he acknowledged that the recently dropped graft charges against his Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has cast doubt on his anti-corruption agenda.

By focusing on the economy and governance, Mr Anwar expressed confidence that he could win back public support against a "worrying" backdrop of race- and religion-based politics.

"It will take time, because the cynicism is due to the failure of political leaders in the past to prove that leadership must be accountable, and corruption cannot be deemed to be systemic, which is the case in Malaysia," he said in the interview before he gave a speech at the Milken Institute's Asia Summit.

Besides domestic issues, Mr Anwar in his hour-long address also touched on Malaysia's foreign policy amid tensions between China and the United States, and how he is dealing with both countries to seek justice in the multibillion dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case. - CNA