Cabinet reshuffle ‘to save the PM’ if Malaysia doesn’t improve WCR ranking, jokes Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: While Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim remains optimistic about Malaysia’s ranking for the World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) Report next round, he said that drastic measures will be taken if the ranking does not improve.

When speaking at the 47th American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) annual general meeting, Anwar in jest said that he would be forced to make “some minor reshuffle to the Cabinet.”

“The report highlighted our failure or at least the lack of determination to undertake these seemingly unpopular measures, but we did (address it).

“To my mind, that by itself addresses a major component of the criticism against the economic performance. I hope next year we will do much better in the report insyaAllah.

“Otherwise, I am forced to make some minor reshuffle to the Cabinet. That’s the only way to save the prime minister,” he said on Tuesday (June 25), receiving laughter from the audience.

Earlier on Tuesday, Anwar told Parliament that delays in the implementation of targeted subsidy rationalisation were a factor in Malaysia slipping seven places in the WCR 2024, ranking at 34th position out of 67 countries.

He said the report detailed that the reason the country’s ranking declined was due to delays and the government’s leniency when implementing the targeted diesel subsidy.

The nation also slipped four places to 10th out of 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, marking the first time Malaysia ranked lower than Indonesia and Thailand.