DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that the Madani administration is taking all necessary steps to ensure the needs of every race in the country are heard, and nobody is left behind.
Acknowledging that Malaysia’s inherited race-based policies can become “overzealous”, the prime minister explained that the policies had a basis when they were introduced in the 1970s, given the economic disparity faced by Malays and indigenous communities at the time.
“There is some wisdom in terms of the race-based policies initially in the 70s because of the disparity and the plight of the majority Malays and the indigenous people, who had been largely marginalised,” he said.
But he said there were limits to how such policies should be applied.
“Sometimes you cross the line or tend to be overzealous, to the extent that some ethnic communities feel they have been largely ignored,” he said.
Anwar was speaking in an interview with Chennai-based Thanthi TV during his visit to India.
He said the government is now making adjustments under the Madani approach, particularly for people facing poverty or denied opportunities because of their background.
“If it is poverty or abject poverty, you help the respective race,” he said.
He also pointed to concerns involving Indian students who may have been denied access to educational opportunities.
“If you are concerned about some ethnic Indian students having been deprived of the right, then we should address this,” he said.
Anwar acknowledged that such adjustments would not necessarily be welcomed by everyone, particularly within the Malay community.
“Of course it will create some negative reaction from the majority Malay,” he said.
He said this was part of the difficulty of governing a multiracial and multireligious country, where changes intended to address one community’s concerns could draw objections from another.
For Anwar, the answer is to engage communities directly and make changes where possible.
“The wisdom of leadership is to be able to engage with them respectfully, accept the limitations, but try to address wherever possible,” he said. – September 15, 2026
