[1] Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim continues to double-down on allegations of a conspiracy to overthrow the government. In parliament recently, he painted a vivid picture of a well-funded conspiracy against his government spearheaded by a sinister cabal of foreign bankers, prominent Zionists, international media organizations, lobbyists and others in Malaysia. And just for good measure he threw in the observation that Zionist “are clearly against Islam” and that he was being targeted because he is one of most outspoken critics of Israel and the United States.^[1]

[2] Laying out the supposed evidence, he revealed that the conspiracy involved gathering information, which was then passed on to Bloomberg, a business newspaper own by a prominent Jewish New Yorker, to publish articles critical of Malaysia and the MACC. According to the prime minister, that aim was “to create a narrative challenging Malaysia’s authority and the government and to organize a movement through parliament.”

[2] Unless, I’m missing something, none of this even remotely amounts to a conspiracy to topple the government. What he is describing looks more like part of the usual rough and tumble of politics in a parliamentary democracy. Anwar himself was involved in several campaigns to topple the government when he was in the opposition. Such political manoeuvring is normal in a parliamentary democracy such as ours. It is certainly not illegal.

[3] Nor is questioning “the entire national system and government legitimacy” as sinister as he is makes it out to be. Malaysians regularly challenge the legitimacy of government actions and raise serious questions about whether the national system is functioning as it should. Again nothing sinister – just part of the noisy democratic process. 

[4] Clearly the PM has been rattled, unnerved even, by the Bloomberg allegations against his MACC chief. Instead of putting the matter to rest through a credible, independent investigation as many Malaysians are demanding, he has resorted to conjuring up wild conspiracies and invoking the spectre of Zionists lurking at our door. 

[5] We’ve been here before. When challenged by Anwar decades ago, Mahathir warned in not so many words of a Jewish-led conspiracy to overthrow the government and install Anwar in power. Anwar too didn’t appear to have any hesitation in appealing to foreign powers – including some prominent Jewish leaders in Washington – when he was trying to get out of jail.^[2] Under pressure over the 1MDB scandal, Najib blamed outside interference for trying to destabilise the government.  Now Anwar seems to be sounding a similar note. When scrutiny intensifies and pressure on the government increases, the foreign bogeyman almost always reappears.

[6] The real mystery is why are the powers that be resorting to all this chicanery to avoid an independent and transparent investigation into the allegations against Azam Baki and the MACC? Why is the prime minister so invested in protecting the MACC chief that he appears  willing to undermine his own credibility – and that of his government – to shield a public servant who ought to face scrutiny whenever series allegations of impropriety emerge? The government’s hysterical response only invites further suspicion that all in not well in the corridors of power.

[7] The prime minister insists the truth about the alleged plot will emerge once investigations are completed. Let’s see. One thing is certain: if the evidence doesn’t turn out to be strong, formidable and convincing – if this turns out to be just another devious attempt to divert attention or cover up serious wrongdoing – it will not be international conspiracies that the government will have to worry about but, the anger of Malaysians who are sick and tired of a government that seems intent on playing games with the truth.

[Dennis Ignatius | Kuala Lumpur | 4^th March 2026]

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^[1] Anwar: Plot to overthrow govt involves prominent Zionists |NST |03 March 2026

^[2] Revealed: How Anwar’s PKR engaged foreign consultants to build US pressure on Najib |Malaysia Now |02 March 2026