By Alang Bendahara
IN the 100 days since assuming office on November 24, 2022, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has had to battle the nation's post-pandemic economic slump, massive debts, and rising costs of living.
Bursa Malaysia rocketed to a new intra-day high the day Anwar was announced as the prime minister.
Within the first minute of trading, the key index extended its gains to over 1,500, up 58.38 points from the day before and ended the day at 1,501.88.
This was the Bursa's record high since 1,512.050 on Aug 30, 2022. The ringgit, too, climbed 1.8 per cent to its highest in over two months versus the US dollar.
Anwar, as the country's former finance minister from 1991 to 1998, carried the burden of the nation's RM1.2 trillion debt upon his shoulders the moment he took over Putrajaya.
Thus, it came as no surprise to many when he made the announcement to decline to receive any salary, both as prime minister and finance minister. His team of Cabinet ministers too, agreed to a 20 per cent pay cut until Malaysia reaches economic recovery. Suffice it to say, all government ministries and bodies were instructed to tighten their belts.
In a move welcomed by those in the agriculture sector, Anwar directed Padiberas Nasional (Bernas) to distribute RM10 million to 150,000 impoverished rice farmers last year, and RM50 million more to them this year, after discussions with Bernas tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary.
The Prime Minister also announced RM100 million in flood aid for victims in Kelantan and Terengganu when in December, the Northeast Monsoon brought sudden downpours to the east coast states. RM1,000 in cash were promised to each family, and in the event of an accident caused by the floods, RM10,000 would be given.
In February, Anwar announced the appointment of former Petronas CEO Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican as head of a five-person Special Advisory Body to the Finance Minister. They, too, declined a salary.
Weekend meetings
On a Sunday three days after taking his oath of office, Anwar famously called on all senior officers in government departments and agencies to attend a National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) meeting.
In the 100 days since, he has also put a halt on imposing higher electricity tariffs on all domestic and small- and medium- entrepreneurs.
When time did not allow him to redo the existing 2023 Federal Budget, he unveiled a revised, mini version on December 20 to continue running the country with a RM107.71 billion allocation.
In January, parents of school-going children were relieved when the mini budget allocated RM150 to each of their children as early schooling assistance, irrespective of how much they earned.
Small-time farmers, too, were compensated with RM200 each for the damage brought on by the unexpected monsoon.
The mini budget also provided a special additional annual salary increment (KGT) of RM100 to public service officers, a special cash aid of RM700 to government workers in Grade 56 and lower, and RM350 to all government sector retirees.
Importantly, 50,000 job openings were created through the programme MySTEP.
On February 24, the Tambun member of parliament finally found the chance to unveil a new, RM388.1 billion federal budget.
To ease the financial burdens of the B40 group, phase one of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah was rolled out on January 16 where RM1.67 billion was channelled to 8.7 million people in the low-income bracket. Four million households benefited, receiving RM300 each.
Also benefiting from the programme were 1.2 million senior citizens without spouses and 3.5 million single persons, with each receiving RM100 to lighten living costs. The cash aid was handed out in January instead of March to speed up help for these groups.
Running on compassion
'Rahmah' in Arabic connotes compassion, charity and blessings.
It is perhaps useful to understand this, as Anwar's Unity Government has since rolled out spin-off programmes based on the concept of alleviating the burdens of the people — Payung Rahmah, Bakul Rahmah, Jualan Rahmah, Kafe Rahmah and Pakej Rahmah, to name a few.
When Chinese New Year approached, the prime minister announced toll-free travel on all state roads for January 20 and 21, for families to meet without additional expenditure.
Other people-friendly initiatives in the 100 days of his leadership include a 30 per cent reduction in assessment rates for all homes that cost less than RM300,000 in Putrajaya; a RM10,000 cash compensation for the families of the victims of the Batang Kali landslide and RM1,000 for those affected; and introducing a prepaid mobile package through Pakej Perpaduan that offers reduced monthly rates of just RM5 for youths, the elderly, the disabled and army veterans.
Anwar also put a stop to the common practice of procuring government projects through direct tenders, and on February 27, ordered the re-tendering of six flood mitigation projects to save the country RM2 billion.
Under his direction, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has been greenlighted to proceed, but with its cost reduced by RM11.01 billion. Anwar has also ordered for Magnum, Sports Toto and Da Ma Cai lottery draws to be reduced from 22 times a year to just eight.
This article first appeared in the Selangor Journal monthly March edition, published on March 6, 2023.
