COMMENT | Now that Anwar Ibrahim’s destiny as the eighth prime minister draws potentially closer with the costly Port Dickson by-election, Malaysians wait with bated breath for him to reveal his vision for the country when he takes over from the current PM.

So far, we have only heard his plans to “make PD great again”, promising development to the area, as would be promised to any other constituency in an election.

If Anwar is only going to focus on the PD constituency, then the unforced resignation by the elected MP in GE14 was indeed frivolous and a waste of taxpayers’ monies. On the back of Pakatan Harapan's unfulfilled election promises, we expect Anwar to address national issues that are central to reforming Malaysia, issues to which the current PM has not yet shown commitment.

1. An end to race-based policies

Will Anwar replace race-based policies such as the New Economic Policy (NEP) with needs-based measures that truly benefit the lower-income and marginalised sectors? And with more than 95 percent bumiputera composition in the civil and armed forces, will the PM-designate ensure that recruitment and promotion in these services are based on merit from now on? Furthermore, does Anwar endorse Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s plan to privatise Khazanah to benefit bumiputera interests?

2. A commitment to equality

Apart from racial discrimination, will Anwar commit to implementing an Equality Act to ensure equality for all, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender and sexuality and transform Suhakam to an Equality and Human Rights Commission? Will he ban child marriages and decriminalise consensual sex between adults?

3. A progressive and fair economic policy

Will he ensure that Petronas’ revenues are invested in a sovereign wealth fund as a pension fund for future generations and the oil-producing states? Instead of more privatisation, will he ensure a strong public sector, as well as solid fundamentals such as health, education, housing, transport services, including highways?

Will Anwar address the increasingly serious gap in income inequality through progressive taxation on the high-income earners, their wealth and properties and implement effective tax laws to ensure there are no tax loopholes for the super-rich, capital allowances and tax holidays for foreign firms? Will a tax be imposed on all international financial transactions and hedge funds? And does he agree with the PM’s plan for a new national car, Proton 2.0?

4. Start the process to bring back elected local councils now

Will Anwar begin the process of bringing back elected local government right away and not use financial constraints as an excuse for not returning this democratic right to Malaysians?...