The country had better institutions and more freedoms back in the “early years” when it was led by elites who did not abuse their powers, said Tunku Zain al-Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, president of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas).

“I think it is very important to identify those elites who are abusing the instruments and machinery of the state to enrich themselves, and others who do not.

“I suppose if we were to look at history, I would think that (we can) agree that in our early years, when we were by and large led by these elites (who did not seek to enrich themselves), we had better checks and balances, better leadership, we had institutions that were better. We had more freedoms,” he said.