Britain, standing out for all the wrong reasons

Messy divorce: As the Brexit deadline draws near without a firm deal, May has to fend off attacks from all sides.

THE Economist in its annual choice of country of the year had Malaysia in a shortlist of three. However, Malaysia did not make it, largely because it is Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who now leads the country after the historic electoral defeat of Barisan Nasional, and not Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The British publication has always had a deep antipathy towards Dr Mahathir and an extraordinarily generous assessment of Anwar. While Malaysians may not share this disdain or innocent affection, the upshot is Malaysia did not get the accolade.