This Year in Malaysia: Anwar realises dream, Najib jailed over 1MDB, nation mourns victims of landslide, floods
- In Malaysia, a 24-year wait to become prime minister is realised, while a former PM is jailed, and the nation mourns a devastating landslide
- The country also reopened after two years of living under lengthy and costly Covid-19 lockdowns
Malaysians will remember 2022 for many historical milestones, including seeing the country reopen after two years of living under lengthy and costly Covid-19 lockdowns. But, the most notable highlights occurred in the political arena, with a more than two-decade dream to become prime minister realised, and the unprecedented jailing of a corrupt national leader.
A hard-fought journey
Anwar, 75, has long been the opposition’s candidate for the premiership since he switched camps in 1998 after he was sacked as Deputy Prime Minister and was eventually incarcerated for sodomy, which he maintains are trumped-up charges.
The key is the coalition government he formed with erstwhile adversaries in Barisan Nasional, the bloc he was sacked from in 1998 who until recently have since been antagonistic towards him. The “unity government” he now leads is washing away decades of rivalries that have long divided the Malaysian people.
Paying for his crimes
Who is Malaysia’s ‘Fat Leonard’ and how did he flee house arrest in US?
Another fugitive that made headlines was Malaysian defence contractor Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis, who swindled US navy commanders out of more than US$35 million by wooing them with wild sex parties and luxury gifts, in one of the most extensive bribery scandals in US military history.
Losing its voice
Malaysia, previously led by Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, went against the bloc’s long-standing policy of not interfering in a member country’s internal affairs. Malaysia went against protocol by questioning Myanmar’s repeated refusal to allow Asean’s envoy to enter despite agreeing to allow that to happen in the Five Points Consensus signed in April 2021.
Myanmar junta vows ‘no negotiation’ with NUG, blasts ‘fake news’ campaign
Despite winning his seat in parliament, Saifuddin is no longer in a ministerial position after his party refused Anwar’s call to join his unity government, preferring to remain in opposition.
Sibling rivalry
The year also saw Malaysia and Singapore reopen their borders after two years of Covid closures, allowing separated families that were kept apart far too long to be reunited.
Disasters
These harrowing experiences led to the prime minister announcing that there will be no New Years’ celebrations, with the country choosing to enter 2023 with quiet respect for the lives lost and affected by the disasters.