KUALA LUMPUR: As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim marked his first tenure in office on Nov 24, 2023, reflections abound on his impactful leadership and the deepening connections between Malaysia and Indonesia.
Ikatan Setiakawan Wartawan Indonesia-Malaysia (Iswami) president Asro Kamal Rokan, in his write-up, reflects the blossoming camaraderie between Malaysia and Indonesia.
"The celebration of his inauguration a year ago resonated not only within Malaysia but also across the Indonesian archipelago.
"Indonesian national figures welcomed Anwar's ascension as the inauguration of a friend.
"This sentiment manifested during his maiden official state visit to Indonesia in January 2023, where he was warmly received by president Joko Widodo at the Bogor Palace."
He said that Anwar's fluent Indonesian and compelling oratory captivated the audience.
"Anwar had expressed optimism in addressing economic instability, affirming his stalwart belief in optimism over pessimism," he said.
He also noted Anwar's emotional closeness to Indonesia, which stemmed from decades of associations, notably rooted in his younger days.
"His involvement with the Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (HMI) in Pekalongan, Central Java, forged friendships with Indonesian activists and Islamic intellectuals like Nurcholish Madjid, Fahmi Idris, Mar'ie Muhammad, and Ekky Syahrudin, from whom he gleaned ideological and political insights.
"It's no wonder that due to this closeness, Anwar always makes time to meet and discuss with his friends whenever he visits Jakarta.
"In early September 2023, before attending the Asean High-Level Conference in Jakarta, he met Islamic figures, including Haedar Nashir (Chairman of Muhammadiyah), Adian Husaini (Chairman of the Islamic Propagation Council of Indonesia), Din Syamuddin (former Chairman of Muhammadiyah), and the Chairwoman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama's Muslimat, Khofifah Indar Parawansa."
Asro also applauded Anwar's stance on freedom of media, which he expressed during Malaysia's National Journalist Day in May.
"It had garnered applause from senior journalists. He reiterated the government's commitment to a free media landscape, permitting criticism while cautioning against incitement of hostility or religious tensions.
"As he marks his first year in office, Malaysia and Indonesia continue to deepen their ties, anchored not just in diplomatic rhetoric but in the shared history and personal connections that bind the two nations.
"Anwar's vision for a cohesive, prosperous Southeast Asia remains steadfast, symbolising hope for collaborative progress in the region."
Meanwhile, Iswami secretary-general N. Syamsuddin Ch Haesy, in his write-up also commended Anwar's leadership.
"The story of Anwar Ibrahim's struggle shall remain preserved in the pages of his personal history and Malaysia's developmental history, which continues to grow as a modern nation, being the second-largest Muslim-populated country after Indonesia in the Southeast Asian region.
"He not only faces challenges in domestic politics - the logical consequence of forming a unity government (between Pakatan Harapan and Umno), he also faces the challenges of civilisation amid rapid changes from the age of script to the digital era: the era of artificial intelligence and the internet of things."
He also said that Anwar faces the dynamics of the world's political and economic landscape post Covid-19 pandemic, including global political instability due to the Ukraine-Russia war and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Syamsuddin added that Anwar In his leadership as prime minister, also confronts the shift in geopolitical and geo-economic orientation from America-Europe to the Asia-Pacific and China's highly aggressive movements in the Asian region, significantly impacting Southeast Asia.