kuala lumpur reformist leader anwar ibrahim has won a hardfought battle to become malaysias new prime minister but working with former foes to form a unity government as a polarized nation watches will immediately test his political mettlethere is no honeymoon period for anwar 75 who got straight down to work less than 24 hours after he was sworn in as the nations 10th leadernational television showed anwar clocking in friday morning at the government administrative capital of putrajaya his first test will be the construction of a cabinet and the distribution of portfolios to appease the diverse members of his unity governmentanwar promised monday that his cabinet will be leaner compared to the previous oversized administration and said he will forego his salary as prime minister amid the countrys economic slowdown he said new cabinet members would be asked to cut their salaries toomy main priority now is the cost of living he told a news conferenceanwar pledged to work swiftly to find ways to help malaysians struggling with rising food costs a currency at its lowest point in over two decades and stagnating wages ahead of an expected economic slowdown next yearanwars pakatan harapan or alliance of hope won 82 out of 222 seats in the nov 19 general election to cobble a majority he won support from two key rival blocs the longruling national front which has 30 seats and the sarawak parties alliance with 23 several smaller blocs have said they will also joinformer prime minister muhyiddin yassins malaycentric national alliance unexpectedly won 73 seats muhyiddins hardline ally the panmalaysian islamic party that touts sharia took 49 seats to become the countrys single largest party in an indication of the rise of conservative islamanwars victory with support from political rivals marked another watershed moment that heralded a new era for malaysian democracy said ahmad fauzi abdul hamid political analyst with the university of science malaysiait came on the back of his alliances stunning victory in 2018 polls which ended the national fronts 60year grip on power and led to the countrys first regime change since independence from britain in 1957 but the new government crumbled after power grab that led to turmoil and saw a total of three prime ministers in four years anwar was in prison at the time on a sodomy charge he said was politically motivatedanwar fostered a conciliatory tone after his appointment welcoming all parties to his government as long as they adhere to the basic rules of good governance no corruption and a malaysia for all malaysiansanalysts said the makeup of his cabinet will provide a clearer picture of his policies going forward as he puts flesh to bones on his campaign promises to clean up the government and heal deepening racial and religious gashes his anticorruption platform will be tested amid concerns that concessions will be made for some national front leaders battling graft charges in return for their supportan ethnic muslim anwar must also earn the trust of conservative