Malaysia’s Anwar says leadership handover doomed

MALAYSIA: A looming leadership transition in Malaysia’s ruling coalition will do nothing to reform an administration mired in corruption, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who led the coalition to its worst ever performance in elections this year, is expected to announce shortly whether he will stand aside next March in favour of his deputy Najib Razak.

“I don’t believe that Najib will be able to garner support or credibility, or manage the economy and rid the country of corruption,” Anwar told reporters.

“The leaders must be credible and we are talking about a system tainted with corruption, condoning criminality, and therefore it is important we continue to call for reform and changes.”

KUALA LUMPUR, Tuesday, AFP