Throw poo long enough and some may stick

Opinion: Trapped Again, or Facing the Truth?


8 Jun 2025 • 9:00 AM MYT


Annan Vaithegi
From sharing insights to creating content that connects and inspires

Image Sources Facebook Anwar Ibrahim

Public Trust & Power: When the Courtroom Meets the Cabinet

When a nation’s leader stands accused not once, not twice, but over and over again you start to wonder: How does public trust survive this? Or does it just… fade quietly?


That’s the question many Malaysians are silently asking as Anwar Ibrahim, our current Prime Minister, faces yet another wave of allegations. This time, it’s a civil lawsuit by his former aide, Yusoff Rawther, claiming sexual assault. It’s serious. And it’s uncomfortable.


But beyond the courtroom, there’s a more subtle trial happening in the minds of the public.


Because trust in a leader isn’t just about what’s proven in court. It’s about what feels real. What resonates. What sticks. And right now, Malaysians are torn between loyalty to a leader who has suffered politically and a growing weariness with repeated controversies that never fully close.

How Does Public Trust Survive Repeated Scandals?


Reputation vs. Repetition

The first time someone is accused, people ask, “Could it be true?” The second time, they ask, “Why is this happening again?” By the third or fourth, people don’t even wait for evidence they’ve already chosen a side. That’s the danger of repetition. Whether true or false, repeated accusations become part of a person’s identity.


Perception Is Everything


For many Malaysians, trust is shaped by how leaders respond not just what the courts decide. When a leader goes quiet, tries to dodge questions, or leans too hard on legal defences, it looks like avoidance. But when they stand firm, speak clearly, and let the system run its course, it feels like strength. And right now? Anwar’s silence feels louder than his speeches.


Political Fatigue Is Real


People want leadership, not drama. The rakyat is tired of watching our leaders bounce between press conferences and courtrooms. We’re trying to afford groceries, find parking at overcrowded hospitals, and help our kids get decent education. Every new scandal feels like a delay button on national progress. And that wears down trust even when the truth isn’t clear.


Truth Isn’t Always Enough


Even if Anwar is innocent and he might very well be public trust doesn’t wait for verdicts. It responds to transparency, empathy, and consistency. And that’s the battleground Anwar is really standing on. Not just the legal one but the emotional one, where Malaysians are asking, “Is this the leader I can believe in anymore?”

So, Where Do We Go From Here?

As citizens, we owe it to ourselves to demand two things at the same time:


Due process for everyone, including the Prime Minister.


Decency and accountability from those in power.


If Anwar is innocent, he needs to stop hiding behind legal teams and start speaking directly to the people. If Yusoff Rawther is telling the truth, he deserves protection not politicization. Either way, Malaysia deserves leaders who face the storm with honesty, not just strategy.


Because in the end, public trust doesn’t break all at once it fades, bit by bit, every time a leader fails to answer the hard questions.


And we’re all watching quietly, closely, and maybe, this time, more carefully than ever.

Annan Vaithegi (annanvaithegi@icloud.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!

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kt comments:

I've defended PMX in my post title, to wit, "Throw poo long enough and some may stick". 😂😂😂