Anwar’s working-class-friendly goody bag makes him look a lot better today than a few days ago #DemiMalaysia

Anwar’s working-class-friendly goody bag makes him look a lot better today than a few days ago #DemiMalaysia


24 Jul 2025 • 2:00 PM MYT



TheRealNehruism
Writer. Seeker. Teacher

Image credit: Malay Mail


As promised, Anwar has revealed the “goody bag” and “appreciation” he has for the rakyat today — and I must say, what he’s offered didn’t disappoint.


RM100 for every adult Malaysian and a 6 sen drop in RON95 petrol to RM1.99 — this is exactly the kind of news that working Malaysians are happy to receive. It’s simple, direct, and actually useful in daily life.


Of course, the opposition won’t be thrilled. These goodies have definitely thrown a spanner into their plans for the big anti-Anwar rally on July 26. They were counting on a wave of public anger — some were even boldly claiming a turnout of 500,000. But now? With a little more money in their e-wallets and cheaper petrol at the pump, the working class might just stay home.


Now, the upper classes might sneer: “You’re supporting a government just because of RM100 and a few sen off fuel?” But maybe what really bothers them is that Anwar seems to be running a pro-working class government — not a government for the elites, as previous administrations so often were.


From introducing a RM1,700 minimum wage this August, to making it compulsory for doctors to display medicine prices, Anwar’s policies are starting to show a pattern — and it’s a pattern that favours workers over the wealthy.


So for those of us who believe in honest work — who feel that we must create value before asking for income — maybe it’s time we thank Anwar and tell him: “Bro, if you’re for us, we’re for you.”


Sure, we all have our complaints about Anwar. Some say he does too much for Palestine, others say too little. Almost everyone feels that he doesn’t do enough to defend their race or religion. Many say he lies every time he opens his mouth.


But in this world, who’s perfect?


To borrow a thought from Giulio Andreotti, the former Italian Prime Minister: when we look at Anwar, we can his flaws — but when we look around him, we don’t see him surrounded by giants either.


Whatever his faults are, they are not exceptional when compared to the flaws of his peers and rivals.


And if we focus on what he’s doing right, we might see something important: Anwar seems to be placing his bet on the working class. That alone sets him apart. Maybe the only other time we saw this was under Najib — but unlike Najib, at least Anwar’s wife isn’t running around with Birkin bags and RM 1200 haircuts.


For decades, the upper class had governments that favoured them. They suppressed wages, inflated property and education costs, and imported millions of foreign workers. The result? They won — and the working class lost.

But with Anwar, for once, it looks like someone is willing to tax their imported luxuries, push them to pay us fairer wages, and use public funds to help us instead of always protecting them.


And let’s not be fooled — the elites have always taken government handouts. Foreign labour? That’s a workforce subsidy. Price controls? Utility subsidies? They’ve enjoyed all of it. So don’t let them shame you now that the benefits are finally reaching your hands.


Still, while we credit Anwar for this working-class pivot, let’s not forget who helped push him there — the judiciary crisis, Yusoff Rawther’s case, and the organisers of the Turun Anwar rally. Without the pressure they applied, maybe we wouldn’t be seeing these incentives today.


So yes — support Anwar while he supports us. But also give thanks to those who made him move.


But most importantly, I think we should also show Anwar, that if we can count on him, he can count on us too. That if he continues to pay attention to our situation and circumstances and use his powers to improve our interests and prospect, he can rest assured that we will do whatever we can, to ensure that he will always be in power.

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