When Anwar Ibrahim was finally sworn in as Malaysia’s latest prime minister this month he was quick to repeat the promise which helped him win office in the first place: to drive corruption out of politics.
"We will never compromise on good governance, the anti-corruption drive, judicial independence and the welfare of ordinary Malaysians," he said hours after he was sworn in, before leading chants of "Reformasi" — his rallying cry for reform during years of opposition.
Cases such as former deputy Prime Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s graft trial and the controversial 1MDB case have shone a spotlight on the darker side of Malaysia’s political financing. The cases have tarnished the country’s reputation and highlighted poor governance and the lack of political will to tackle corruption.
