PUTRAJAYA (Jan 19): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday (Jan 19) introduced Malaysia Madani as an effort to drive and restore Malaysia’s dignity and glory in the global arena.
Malaysia Madani lays out Anwar’s vision of a civilised, skilled and inclusive society based on six core values, namely Sustainability, Prosperity, Innovation, Respect, Trust and Compassion.
In delivering his mandate themed ‘Developing Malaysia Madani’ here on Thursday, Anwar also called on all his Cabinet members and civil servants to practise the core values in all administrative affairs.
“I have high confidence that Malaysia will be able to rise again on the world stage...we don’t want Malaysia to be polluted with scandals, problems and conflicts.
“Malaysia Madani will restore Malaysia’s right to be known and respected as a prosperous nation,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, as well as the majority of the Cabinet members.
Anwar said Madani, a term that has been repeatedly mentioned by most thinkers, called on all Malaysians, including the leadership of the unity government, to restore and uphold the dignity of the people based on trust, good values and morals as well as fair and effective governance.
He said the concept will never set aside other core values of establishing a system or establishing a more sustainable system for a country.
As such, he said some of the measures to be announced during the tabling of the revised 2023 Budget at Parliament on Feb 24 will return to the basics, such as speeding up approvals and stopping methods of getting undeserved commissions.
“All this can increase confidence by establishing a system or legal government that will not be discriminatory in carrying out the responsibilities, nor oppress or pressure individuals or factions that do not support the government.
“This is what is referred to as a government machinery that is responsible for implementing policies, functioning optimally and solving governance issues with coordination, but it must start with the top-level management,” he said.
In the aspect of driving the country's growth, Anwar insisted that the humanitarian aspect should always be taken into account because it is one of the important elements in developing the country.
“Care too much about having new malls, but [not] enough about the stalls operated by the poor…this is an example of the element of karamah insaniah (human dignity) which had been belittled in the governance.
“That is why the leadership, be it at the federal, state and district levels, as well as civil servants from the top to the lower level, in discussing post-Covid growth and development, should learn the lessons from the past and act appropriately to meet the current demands,” he said.
The prime minister said the entire leadership of the unity government also needs to lay a new foundation and culture and do away with the things that have a bad impact on the country.
“Open our hearts, save our country. This country of ours has once had very good potential and has also hit rock bottom.
“So, let’s give the chance to our children and the next generations so that this hope can be rebuilt with the strength we have, starting now,” he added.