KUALA LUMPUR: With hours left to go before the tabling of 2024 Budget, a curious fascination has developed over what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's choice of attire will be.

As anticipation builds up in Parliament and reporters prepare for a hectic afternoon, the mood has drifted to more trivial matters.

From economic policies and financial allocations, attention is now on the PM's choice of whether he will don the usual light blue traditional Baju Melayu or a sharp suit sans tie.

28-year-old Ros Alina Ibrahim predicted Anwar is going to wear his usual light blue traditional Baju Melayu which 'signifies his humility in the way he leads the country'.

"It's like his trademark," she briefly told New Straits Times.

Noting how the tabling will be done after Friday prayers, Hazeeq Rahmat said that he's not sure about the colour that Anwar will choose, but said definitely he would wear traditional baju melayu.

"I definitely think that he's going to wear baju melayu but not sure what colour its going to be," he said.

Two other social media users going by the handle @shahbmw and @mysrtmz also shared the same prediction about Anwar's attire online.

Anwar is expected to table the annual fiscal bill for next year at 4pm.

Choice of attire has been the talking point at previous Budget tablings. In 2018, male Barisan Nasional parliamentarians donned blue Baju Melayu while female ones wore blue 'tudung' during the tabling.

This was to show solidarity with former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who wore a blue baju melayu.

This wardrobe "distraction" may be a deliberate strategy to divert attention from the budget's intricate details, allowing the government to avoid intense scrutiny of the proposed fiscal measures.

This year, generating interest in something as mundane as the Anwar's clothing may have successfully lightened the mood and steered the public's focus away from more contentious issues.

In a time where the economy, healthcare, and education are among the pressing concerns, it is a curious turn of events that the nation's attention has been diverted to a mere fashion statement.

As the clock ticks down to the budget's tabling, it remains to be seen whether Anwar's choice of attire will be as attention-grabbing as the public has anticipated, or if the nation will eventually refocus on the more substantial issues at hand.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/966510/will-pms-outfit-outshine-budget