Reflections | Malaysians’ regard for the entitlements of office has echoes of ancient China. Anwar Ibrahim spurning official car is like a mandarin riding on horseback
- The Malaysian prime minister says he won’t use the Mercedes-Benz limousine meant for him. This has echoes in the thrift seen under some imperial Chinese rulers
- Depending on their rank, Chinese mandarins travelled by horse and carriage, palanquin or on horseback. To show thrift, high officials would choose the latter
The uncertainty following Malaysia’s general election on November 19, where no single coalition or party won enough seats to form a simple majority in the country’s 222-seat parliament, is no more.
Even before the new government gets down to the business of running the country, Anwar has shown that he wants a break from the past. While some of the measures that he announced, such as reducing the salaries of ministers and not drawing his prime minister’s pay during his time in office, may be symbolic, they clearly indicate that he wants to bring about a cultural change in the government and civil service.
For a long time, many officials in Malaysia have had an unhealthy relationship with the accoutrements of their office. Titles and honorific addresses, the size of their entourage, their flight and accommodation class when they travel, the make of their official cars – all these have acquired a disproportionate level of importance.
Of course, this phenomenon is not exclusively Malaysian, but it is one that has long been observed in Malaysia. It is therefore heartening to read that Anwar has decided not to use a brand-new Mercedes-Benz S600 limousine, which had been purchased before he became prime minister, as his official car. He would instead “use whatever vehicles I have in the office for daily use”.
