Questioning the effectiveness of public condemnation by PM Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's decision to publicly condemn Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi over his racial remarks may have been well-intentioned, but it risks deepening political divisions rather than easing them. By elevating Sanusi's comments to a national issue, Anwar gives them more attention and allows the opposition to frame him as out of touch with Malay grievances. Many Malay voters feel that their economic and cultural position is precarious; Sanusi's words, though blunt, resonate with those concerns. A more effective approach might have been to address the underlying anxieties through policy, rather than issuing a rebuke that could be seen as playing to his coalition partners at the expense of Malay support. Furthermore, the condemnation does little to change minds among those already politicised along racial lines. It may even strengthen Sanusi's standing among his base, who see him as a defender of Malay rights. Anwar's action also sets a precedent where political leaders are policed for speech, which could chill necessary debates about affirmative action and national identity. For unity to be genuine, it must be built through dialogue and concrete measures, not through top-down admonitions that risk being dismissed as partisan.