Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has commended the country’s civil service following Malaysia’s historic achievement of securing 15th place in the 2026 World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR), marking the nation’s best-ever performance.
He said the recognition also drew positive remarks from Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov during his recent visit to the country, where Malaysia’s progress was highlighted.
Anwar stressed that the achievement was not the result of any single individual, but rather reflected the strength and coordination of the entire public service system, which continues to serve as the backbone of national development.
He added that Malaysia’s performance over the past three and a half years was driven by teamwork within the civil service rather than the efforts of the Prime Minister alone.
The Prime Minister also noted that the country’s progress had been achieved despite ongoing challenges, including resistance to change within the administrative system.
He said such resistance does not only come from the general public but also from certain elites and officials who are comfortable with old practices, including corruption and commission-based systems.
Anwar further emphasised that efforts to combat corruption often face pushback, including protests and opposition from those resistant to reforms in governance.
He said overcoming this “resistance to change” is essential if Malaysia is to continue progressing and gain stronger international recognition.
