Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has once again expressed his firm commitment to fighting corruption in Malaysia, even if his actions may not always be popular. Speaking at the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) 2025 celebration, Anwar stated that despite taking action against corrupt leaders, both past and present, as well as businessmen and corporate figures who have misused billions of ringgit, he has not received the level of anger and support he expected from the public.

However, Anwar remained steadfast in his approach, saying, “It doesn’t matter. I do my job regardless of whether I have the general support or not. That is my duty and I will perform to the best of my ability to ensure that corruption, which has long been a problem in this country, is eliminated.”

The Prime Minister made it clear that he is not focused on imprisoning individuals but is determined to recover the misappropriated funds for the people. He criticized the country for allowing embezzlement worth billions to go unchecked by several political and corporate figures.

Anwar stressed that the key issue is not about jailing individuals, but about retrieving the stolen money and returning it to the people. He aims to end the culture of corruption and abuse of power, stating that addressing the management of public finances is essential for the country’s future safety and prosperity.

He also mentioned that distractions, such as petty issues, are being used to divert attention from the core problems facing the nation. Only by resolving these root causes can the government focus on matters such as additional allocations for national development, he said.

Hawana, introduced in 2018, celebrates the contributions of journalists to the nation, marking the first publication of the Utusan Melayu newspaper in 1939.