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Anwar urges Parliament to abandon outdated thinking on economy

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed disappointment at what he characterises as rigid ideological positions among lawmakers, arguing that Malaysia cannot advance economically without modernising parliamentary perspectives.

LSN Malaysia · 23 October 2026

Anwar urges Parliament to abandon outdated thinking on economy

Anwar Ibrahim has criticised members of Parliament for clinging to conventional frameworks that he believes impede economic progress, saying the nation cannot elevate economic dignity under such constraints.

The Prime Minister's remarks highlight growing frustration with legislative approaches that prioritise traditional policy positions over innovative solutions needed to drive Malaysia's economic transformation.

Anwar's intervention underscores the administration's push for legislators to adopt more flexible and forward-thinking stances when deliberating economic matters. The government has positioned economic modernisation as central to its agenda, requiring parliamentarians to move beyond entrenched positions.

The comments reflect broader tensions between the executive's reform ambitions and parliamentary resistance to departing from established policy frameworks, an ongoing challenge for the government as it pursues its economic agenda.