For the first time in its history, Malaysia is governed by a framework antithetical to patronage politics: the SCRIPT.

This structured approach—Systemic, Committed, Reform-Integrated, Principled, and Transparent—shatters a legacy where contracts, appointments, and state resources historically served political loyalty over public interest.

It is a formula not merely for reform, but for sustainable national success.

Though the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces intense scrutiny, a closer look at the evidence reveals an administration steadily delivering on its SCRIPT (Madani) framework while navigating unprecedented political and economic challenges.

Here’s why Malaysians should stay the course:

1. Unprecedented governance reforms: The SCRIPT in action

The Madani government has institutionalized anti-corruption and transparency as non-negotiable pillars.

Unlike past administrations where reform was rhetoric, Anwar’s team has:

■ Embedded institutional accountability: Established direct parliamentary oversight via the Special Select Committee on Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption, ensuring continuous reform momentum.

■ Committed to long-term anti-graft transformation: As Anwar stated, There’s no turning back… every month and every year there must be progression in fighting corruption, acknowledging reforms require strategic patience in a coalition government.

■ Targeted systemic improvement: Aiming to elevate Malaysia into the top 25 of the Corruption Perceptions Index—a measurable benchmark of governance progress.

2. The unifying force: Multi-ethnic power-sharing as national strategy

For the first time, a genuinely multi-ethnic coalition—including former rivals UMNO and PH—governs together:

■ Beyond “divide and rule”: Actively promotes inter-ethnic power-sharing, rejecting monolithic racial narratives that long fractured Malaysian politics. 

■ Policy inclusivity: Explicitly protects minority rights while affirming constitutional Malay-Islamic pillars, ensuring “no one is left behind—whether minorities, rural poor, or Sabah/Sarawak communities”.

■ Stability through representation: By incorporating East Malaysian parties and UMNO, the government reflects Malaysia’s pluralism operationally, not just symbolically.

This coalition model transforms “unity government” from slogan to working methodology—a safeguard against extremism.

3. Shaking the civil service mammoth: Efficiency over expansion

Facing a bloated bureaucracy and fiscal strain (national debt: RM1.5 trillion or >80 percent of GDP), Madani pioneers essential reforms:

■ Subsidy rationalization: Redirecting billions from blanket fuel/subsidies toward targeted aid like MySARA (RM700 million for the poor).

■ Digital transformation: Integrating AI and data-driven processes to cut waste, as seen in the push to digitize tax systems and social aid distribution.

■ GLC restructuring: Auditing 217 federal subsidiaries (86 reported RM2.81 billion losses in 2023) to halt patronage sinks. 

These measures prioritize “raising the floor” for the vulnerable while “raising the ceiling” for growth.

4. Anti-corruption architecture: Beyond rhetoric to institutional reinvention

The government’s anti-graft measures target systemic enablers:

■ GLC governance overhaul: Restructuring giants like Petronas via transparency protocols to prevent political lootings.

■ Wealth and privilege checks: Empowering MACC to pursue high-profile cases (e.g., Ilham Tower seizures) despite elite resistance.

■ Fiscal responsibility: Reducing deficit to 3 percent by rationalizing subsidies and auditing loss-making entities. 

Critics argue against wealth taxes, but Madani’s approach balances revenue generation with investment attraction—avoiding capital flight while broadening the tax base via SST.

5. Results speak: Global indexes and economic momentum 

Madani’s policy discipline is yielding measurable gains:

Table: Madani government’s key performance targets and progress

Malaysia rose in GII rankings post-2023; 2025 data pending.

The “Madani Economy” framework anchors these targets in executable policy—not slogans.

6. +1 Inclusive growth: The ‘Human Economy’ in practice

Rejecting GDP fetishism, Madani centers development on welfare:

■ Poverty eradication: Eliminating hardcore poverty through direct cash/food aid, with over 100,000 households lifted in 2023–2024.

■ Wage justice: Implementing Malaysia’s first Progressive Wage Policy to boost incomes amid inflation, the lowest in the region.

■ Halal leadership: Capturing opportunities in the US$3 trillion global halal market via certification excellence.

This “Human Economy” philosophy counters “unbridled capitalism” and ensures growth benefits all.

Why the Opposition’s narrative falters

Perikatan Nasional’s “Cukaiman” (Tax Monster) jibes ignore context:

■ Subsidy cuts (electricity, fuel) primarily affect corporations and high-income groups, with safeguards for the poor.

■ The alternative—a 2 percent wealth tax—risks capital flight without international coordination.

■ Fiscal reality: Debt servicing costs (RM49.8 billion in 2024) demand revenue reform. 

The verdict: Steady hands in turbulent times

Malaysia’s political experiment under Madani is working: a multi-ethnic coalition delivering institutional reform amid global headwinds. Giving it another term means:

■ Consolidating governance gains now bearing fruit.

■ Deepening national unity against racial spoils systems.

■ Securing economic momentum as global indexes validate progress. 

Anwar’s hikmah (wisdom) is clear: lasting reform requires patience, not haste.

Rushing risks chaos; steadfast adherence to the SCRIPT delivers transformative results.

For a Malaysia defined by integrity, unity, and rising prosperity, there is only one choice: Stay the course.

(Nathalie Chia is Member of Monsoons Malaysia.)