COMMENT | When Anwar Ibrahim was the opposition leader, he criticised authorities for what he called “police intimidation” against leaders, urging the then-MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki to step down amid his shareholding controversy.

He said such pressure was inappropriate against those raising corruption concerns.

Today, as prime minister, Anwar has now urged critics to “read explanations” and warned them against “insulting” public officials rather than answering the substantive questions at hand. What a reversal. What a profound contradiction.

Those in powerful positions have a low tolerance for scrutiny, and anyone asking reasonable questions about wealth, power, religious authority, or governance realises that their actions come with consequences.

When lawmakers raise concerns about how senior civil servants accumulate large shareholdings, the response is not transparency, but...