Many problems due to a lack of accountability, says Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today attributed many of the country’s problems to a lack of accountability, saying accountability is not given adequate attention when it comes to world or national governance.

“I believe that (the lack of attention) happens to be the source of problems,” he said, citing unfair trade practices, unilaterally imposed tariffs and continued gross injustices as examples.

He said this when officiating the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2026 here, which was also attended by Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir.

He also criticised the failure of modern societies, including democracies, to hold those in power fully accountable “in the real sense”.

Amirul meanwhile said that one of the forum’s themes was “watching the watchmen”.

In his welcoming remarks, he said the watchmen were those entrusted with power on the public’s behalf, including governments, central banks and commercial firms.