Six Anwar initiatives could boost Madani government’s political standing ahead of GE16, analyst says

Six initiatives announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim could give Malaysia’s Madani government political value before the next general election, but only if people feel their effects in daily life, an analyst says.

Sivamurugan Pandian, a professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia’s School of Social Sciences, said the measures reach a broad range of groups. They include B40 and M40 households, parents and students, young people, small traders and users of public health services.

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People want to see not only reform at the policy level, but also how the results of more efficient management ultimately return to them.

The initiatives include changes involving BUDI95 eligibility and three months of free subscriptions to selected artificial-intelligence applications for 100,000 people aged 18 to 30 who complete the AI for Rakyat programme. The government will also raise 2027 maintenance funding for all school streams by 50 percent to RM1.5 billion and provide a RM200 million Geran Sejahtera Madani for hawkers, night-market traders and mothers running home businesses.

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At the same time, these six initiatives need to be viewed in a broader context. The government’s ability to benefit the people depends on political stability, economic growth, fiscal discipline and the ability to reduce leakage.

Anwar also announced RM1 billion to improve digital efficiency in public healthcare. The government agreed to raise the annual e-Invoice exemption threshold from RM1 million to RM3 million and add RM1 billion in microfinancing facilities, bringing total funding for 2026 to RM6 billion.

Sivamurugan said the measures could help Anwar turn reform, savings and anti-corruption efforts into benefits that people can see. But he cautioned that the announcements do not automatically guarantee support in the 16th general election. Their political value will depend on whether citizens experience lasting improvements, as well as on political stability, economic growth, fiscal discipline and the government’s ability to reduce leakage.

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In an election, announcements can attract attention, but people’s experience of administrative effectiveness ultimately determines support.

“In an election, announcements can attract attention, but people’s experience of administrative effectiveness ultimately determines support,” Sivamurugan said. “These six initiatives may not yet be votes, but they give the prime minister an opportunity to turn the results of administration into people’s experience.”

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These six initiatives may not yet be votes, but they give the prime minister an opportunity to turn the results of administration into people’s experience.