C4 detonates: Anwar betrays reforms, no interest in battling graft

Summary

• C4 Center delivers a scathing rebuke of prime minister’s defence of political appointments.

• Watchdog says that the Madani government’s reform agenda is “dead in the water for now”.

The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) has delivered a scathing rebuke of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, accusing him of betraying reformist ideals by openly endorsing political loyalty over integrity.

In a blistering statement, C4 Center seized upon Anwar’s recent remarks at the PKR congress, branding them a “chilling indicator” of his apparent disregard for the fight against corruption and cronyism.

“C4 Center fully condemns these comments, reiterating that appointments to positions of power as a reward for loyalty entrench crony networks,” its steering committee said in a statement.

The committee highlighted that Anwar has previously defended political appointments on several occasions, despite calls from civil society organisations for an open and transparent appointment process.

These groups have advocated for clear guidelines that include both inclusion and exclusion criteria.

“The National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024–2028 (NACS), launched by Anwar’s government, acknowledges that appointment processes are vulnerable to existing corruption risks.

“Under the heading ‘Analysis on Corruption in Malaysia’ the NACS mentions ‘... governance within statutory bodies, state-owned enterprises, and companies limited by guarantee in Malaysia is marred by favouritism and nepotism, with top appointments often influenced by political and personal connections’,” it added.

C4 Center contended that Anwar’s recent remarks at the PKR congress marked a significant departure from acceptable governance standards, as he openly admitted to and defended the rewarding of political loyalty.

“There is a substantial difference here from the previous stance he has taken publicly. Instead of political affiliation simply being disregarded as a non-factor when it comes to appointments, loyalty to Anwar’s party is now deemed an acceptable factor for appointments to positions of power.

“Does this mean that if multiple qualified candidates exist, are those who have shown loyalty to Anwar and his party more likely to be appointed?” it asked.

Cronyism

The centre further pointed out that political appointments are often criticised because of their inherent risks in fostering entrenched crony networks.

“It is well-documented that cronies appointed as leaders to government-linked companies have used their position to make decisions that enrich the political party or leader that placed them in that position, creating a relationship of patronage.

“Anwar’s comments this time around are particularly egregious – he is exclaiming loud and clear that he is open to engaging in patronage politics.

“Anwar is advertising that loyalty in service of political interests that align with his are transactional, and that he is willing to reciprocate with opportunities of power,” it added.

C4 Center also criticised Anwar’s use of a proviso that appointees must be “qualified” as a means of deflecting criticism. The centre argued that this reasoning fails to address corruption concerns on multiple fronts.

“First of all, that ‘qualified’ individuals are not immune from engaging in patronage. Secondly, with no existing policy on appointments, the government is able to arbitrarily define those ‘qualifications’ to fit their own goals,” it added.

Dangerous precedent

C4 Center warned that Anwar’s comments risk setting a dangerous precedent that normalises corruption.

“If the prime minister is freely speaking of rewarding loyalty with political appointments, there is nothing stopping politicians across all parties and coalitions from doing the same.

“His comments enable politicians to treat political appointments as bargaining chips instead of their intended purpose of creating opportunities for Malaysians,” it added.

The centre also stressed that GLCs must not be exploited for political or financial gain, noting that their primary mission is to generate socio-economic growth for Malaysia.

“Besides that, these GLCs and statutory bodies carry out public functions such as service provisions in various sectors, like transport, healthcare, and education. The development of such services and their provisions should take priority over political machinations.

“Hence, their integrity must be defended from predatory parties seeking personal enrichment instead,” it added.

C4 Center declared the Madani reform agenda “dead in the water for now” but warned that it “cannot be allowed to rot”.

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