Anwar Ibrahim is a man on a mission.

The President-elect of Parti Keadilan Rakyat gave a major speech to about 400 guests on the second day of Singapore Summit 2018, as part of the S. Rajaratnam Endowment Dialogue.

It outlined his main principles and priorities as he looks to play a larger role within Malaysia's government in the near future.

Needs-based, not race-based affirmative action

Anwar emphasised that racism and race-based politics have to be reformed.

Referring to the victory of the Pakatan Harapan coalition in May 2018, he said that it was unprecedented as it succeeded in garnering support from all races across the country.

Anwar stated that Malaysia needed to depart from race-based economic policies which had become "sacrosanct" among the Malays, which he now views as obsolete.

He elaborated that such policies, which had begun as a way to assist the marginalised people in Malaysian society, should be based according to need, not race.

He pointed out that besides Malays, there were members of the Chinese, Indian and indigenous populations that also faced challenges in overcoming poverty. Said Anwar, to applause from the audience:

"So meritocracy has its basis, and must be supported, but affirmative action policies that would cater to the poor and underprivileged must be continued, but it must be needs-based and not race-based."

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Rooting out corruption

Given the criminal charges against the previous Prime Minister Najib Razak, it was perhaps no surprise that stamping out corruption was another major theme in Anwar's speech.

He gave credit to current PM Mahathir Mohamad for taking quick steps to enforce anti-corruption measures, such as ensuring that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) now reported to Parliament.

Previously, it had been part of the Prime Minister's Department.

Said Anwar on the scale of the challenge facing the new government:

"To suggest that our government has inherited a fiscal mess would be an understatement. As we entered the ministries and started taking control of the reigns of power, we are learning the full extent of how the previous administration mismanaged the country. I would go as far as to say that this was a case of criminal financial management."

He also called for more transparency and accountability in economic governance, lest Malaysia revert to a time where public money was used to build up private companies.

Economic progress

The former Minister of Finance also discussed economic issues at length.

He mentioned that Mahathir had taken some immediate, short-term steps to rein in public spending -- perhaps an oblique reference to the recent postponement of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project.

However, Anwar said that Malaysia's fiscal situation was not all in dire straits, and that sound management would get them back on solid footing beyond just treading water.

In order for Malaysia to become an Asian Tiger once more, Malaysia needed to root out corruption and find new ways of stimulating trade, growth and encouraging innovation. Said Anwar:

"We believe therefore there is a tremendous untapped potential in the economy, and we will do everything that we can to promote growth."

Media and judicial independence

Anwar also committed himself to press and judicial reform, particularly in ensuring their independence.

He said that his priority was democratic accountability, and that it was "not healthy" for a democracy to be not accountable to a free press and an independent judiciary.

Perhaps referring to his own stint in prison on charges his supporters believed were politically-motivated, he said that he had a "clear interest" in ensuring judicial independence.

"Misconduct by judges and lawyers (should) get swift and significant consequences. Judges must be insulated from political interferences."

On the role of the media, he said that the importance of free media "could not be overstated", and added that it is the most effective antidote to the "arrogance of power".

Since the election, he said:

"The media is certainly free now to report the truth. To interpret, or to debunk some of the...what was considered at least sacrosanct in our country."

By-election coming up

While Anwar is not an MP nor does he hold an official position in the Malaysian government, he is widely expected to assume the role of the next Prime Minister of Malaysia.

He is preparing to make his return to Malaysian politics by contesting in a by-election in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

The previous MP, Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, announced his resignation from Parliament on Sept. 12 to pave the way for Anwar.

Mahathir has endorsed Anwar's candidacy, adding:

"As far as my relationship with Anwar, it’s ok, it’s good, as good as can be."

Mahathir has repeated that he will not go back on his pledge that Anwar will eventually succeed him as Prime Minister. On Sept. 14, during a press conference, he said:

"It must be Anwar. I’m not reneging my promise. The period of course is not very certain, but I’m conscious that I’m very old. In two years' time, I’ll be 95."

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Top image by Kayla Wong.