PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that government efforts should focus on improving the lives of everyday Malaysians, saying he prefers well-kept hawker stalls over the construction of more towering landmarks.
Speaking at the launch of the RM4 billion Kota Madani integrated development project, Anwar underscored his desire to break from performative politics and redirect attention towards meaningful, people-focused progress.
“I don’t want to be the kind of leader who only visits hawker stalls or kisses babies two months before an election—because that’s when every politician suddenly becomes friendly, visits homes, and pretends to care,” he said.
“I want to put an end to that culture.”
Anwar said his weekly practice of visiting food stalls before Friday prayers—initiated shortly after taking office in December 2022—was not intended for publicity, but to embody the Madani values of consistent presence, sincerity, and compassion.
“This culture must be embedded, not just acted out during campaigns.”
He also emphasised the need for a more grounded approach to urban development, noting that while Malaysia already boasts iconic landmarks such as the Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower and Merdeka 118, it lacks well-maintained, accessible hawker facilities for the majority.
“We already have our national landmarks… What I want to see now are clean and well-maintained stalls and hawker centres, because 80 per cent of the people frequent them. Only about 20 per cent can afford to dine at high-end restaurants,” he said.
“Let those big restaurants exist—but the government’s main focus should be on the everyday needs of the majority.”
Anwar said it was unacceptable that Kuala Lumpur still lacked decent hawker facilities despite the country’s ability to deliver world-class infrastructure.
“If we can build world-class skyscrapers like the Twin Towers and Merdeka 118, surely we can also develop clean, safe hawker stalls around Kuala Lumpur.”
Addressing concerns about protocol, he revealed that some officials had discouraged him from visiting public markets and stalls, viewing it as unbecoming of a prime minister. Anwar disagreed.
“This isn’t about image—it’s about intention and sincerity. You are promoting a culture of continuous engagement, not seasonal populism. You want leadership that is present consistently, not only during election season; sincere and grounded, not obsessed with protocol.”
He concluded by saying that the needs of the people—particularly the majority who rely on simple stalls and warungs—should guide national development, in line with the Madani values of humility, accountability and inclusion. - June 26, 2026
