PELITA DAILY — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday launched a new slogan for his administration – called Malaysia Madani – which he said aims to bring the country forward.

The slogan followed those introduced by previous prime ministers, including Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, 1Malaysia by Najib Razak, and Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam) by Tun Abdullah Badawi.

Datuk Seri Anwar said in a speech that the concept’s main core are accountability and transparency, and he promised to help every Malaysian regardless of ethnicity.

Behind him on the stage in Putrajaya where he spoke were the words “Membangun Malaysia MADANI” (Developing Malaysia MADANI). The word “madani” in Arabic carries the general meaning of civilised or modern.

The premier said that the word Madani is the Malay acronym for Sustainability, Care & Compassion, Respect, Innovation, Prosperity and Trust, The Star daily reported.

Mr Anwar, who assumed the premiership two months ago, said he wants to reset the country’s attitude towards race and religion, a mainstay of Malaysian politics.

“Our country’s pillar is still the Malay majority and with an emphasis on the principles of Islam, the Malay language, and Malay rights, but we are a multiracial country.

“We do not want this country to be developed in a way where certain groups of the people, whether it is a minority race or the poor or those in rural areas or in Sabah or Sarawak, are still left behind,” he said, as quoted by Malaysiakini news site.

The country’s long-standing Bumiputera policy, which aims to uplift the Malay majority and other indigenous races, is widely seen today as hobbling Malaysia’s development and causing the migration of talent.

PM Anwar leads a multiracial coalition and is aware that he must corral higher Malay-Muslim support, including from the Malay-majority civil service, to strengthen his leadership. ●Redaksi/Strait Time