Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faced the largest street protests since taking office on Saturday (July 26), with around 20,000 people flooding the streets of Kuala Lumpur, chanting “Anwar resign” (Turun Anwar) to express dissatisfaction with soaring living costs and poor economic management.
The protest was initiated by the opposition party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia. Participants, braving the rain, wore black T-shirts and headscarves with the slogan “Anwar resign,” marching through the streets of downtown Kuala Lumpur before converging at Independence Square to listen to opposition leaders’ speeches and call for Anwar’s resignation.
According to police estimates, at least 18,000 people took part in the protest.
As the leader of the People’s Justice Party, Anwar is currently facing pressure on various fronts, including rising living costs, judicial appointment controversies, attempts to dismiss civil lawsuits related to sexual assault allegations, and unfulfilled reform promises among other criticisms. The increasing cost of living has particularly fueled public discontent.
Despite the peaceful dispersal of the protest after two hours, this marked the first large-scale demonstration Anwar has faced since taking office in 2022 and Malaysia’s first mass protest since 2018. With the next national elections two years away, many media outlets see this protest as reflecting a decline in the prime minister’s approval ratings.
Nevertheless, Prime Minister Anwar remains unfazed, stating that he was not invited to attend the gathering and that he will not be swayed by calls for resignation. He emphasized that the next national elections must be held no later than early 2028, and he still holds an absolute majority in parliament.
Anwar won the election in November 2022 on a reformist platform but immediately faced criticism for introducing measures such as expanding the sales and service tax (SST) and adjusting subsidy policies to increase government revenue. Some fear this could lead to price hikes.
In an effort to alleviate concerns about rising living costs, Anwar announced this week the distribution of cash assistance, increased aid for poor families, and a commitment to lower fuel prices.
Since 2018, no Malaysian Prime Minister has completed a full five-year term. Anwar has now served more than half his term, making him the longest-serving Prime Minister in nearly seven years.
Various major non-governmental organizations in Malaysia have expressed their opposition to a mid-term change in government.
(This article referenced reports from Bloomberg and Reuters)