KUALA LUMPUR — A wave of public frustration swept through Malaysia’s capital on Saturday as thousands rallied to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, accusing him of failing to curb rising living costs and falling short on long-promised reforms.
Wearing black shirts emblazoned with the slogan Turun Anwar — “Step Down Anwar” — protesters marched through Kuala Lumpur’s city center before gathering in historic Independence Square. Police estimated the crowd at around 18,000, making it one of the largest protests in recent years.
Anwar, who came to power in late 2022 as a reformist icon, has increasingly faced public disillusionment. Measures like expanding the sales and services tax and scaling back subsidies have stirred fears of rising prices, especially among Malaysia’s working and middle classes.
In a bid to defuse unrest, Anwar recently announced increased cash assistance for low-income families and pledged to lower fuel prices — but the crowd remained unconvinced.
“These new taxes on manufacturers will trickle down to consumers. Food will get more expensive,” said 23-year-old student activist Nur Shahirah Leman.
The prime minister also faces accusations of judicial interference after prosecutors dropped graft charges against government allies. A delay in appointing the nation’s top judges has only deepened skepticism.
Adding fuel to the fire, former prime minister and political elder Mahathir Mohamad, who recently turned 100, joined the protest. “Those who are innocent are charged, those who have done wrong are let go,” he told the crowd, sharply criticizing his longtime rival.
The protest signals mounting pressure on Anwar’s fragile government as economic anxieties and political mistrust simmer across the country.
