KUALA LUMPUR: Many issues plaguing the world and the country stem from a lack of accountability, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said discussions on governance often overlook accountability.

Opening the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2026, Anwar said democratic accountability received too little attention despite being critical in addressing issues ranging from unfair trade practices and unilateral tariffs to wars and injustices.

“I think there have been enough studies and references that the issue of accountability or democratic accountability receives not even adequate attention on the issues of world governance and national governance,” he said.

He said the fundamental challenge facing the world was how to address governance, particularly when powerful individuals and institutions exercised influence without sufficient checks.

Invoking the Latin maxim “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” or “Who watches the watchers?”, Anwar highlighted the failure of modern societies, including democracies, to hold those in power fully accountable.