In the final lap, Malaysia’s PM Anwar returns to base with reformist budget

KUALA LUMPUR – As the clock ticks towards Malaysia’s general election due by February 2028, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has finally remembered that he is president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), a party dedicated to social justice, and chairman of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, which triumphed in the past two national votes on a reformist and anti-graft platform.His Budget 2027 speech on Oct 9 saw spending not only reoriented towards his largely middle class support base which has wavered over the past year, while also providing more help to low-income Malaysians. There was also a clear push towards fulfilling non-expenditure electoral pledges such as halting disciplinary action against student activists and new oversight laws aimed at preventing the repeat of 1MDB, Tabung Haji and Felda scandals of the past.