WEARING religious garb does not give a person licence to spread lies and slander, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
"Having a turban, a jubah or a skullcap is not licence to slander or cause hatred among fellow Muslims. Being pious means upholding the truth while serving the community," said Anwar.
He urged for the spread of the right teachings so that people are not misled and harmed.
He cited the example of how some religious quarters had lied that the government was cancelling the customary Tilawah Al-Quran recital programme, which has been held for decades.
Anwar was speaking yesterday before breaking fast at the Universiti Teknologi Mara campus in Permatang Pauh, a former stronghold of the prime minister.
He announced that the government plans to increase the median salaries of the civil service before the year is out.
Anwar acknowledged receiving complaints about low wages in the public sector
"We gave RM2,000 to civil servants and it was supposed to be enough until Raya but I heard (complaints) and because of that we gave an additional of RM500."
The government is studying the various approaches to raise the salaries of civil servants in the face of rising living costs, he said.
"Why did salaries not go up in 2020 and 2021 (under the Perikatan Nasional administration)? They did not go up in 2022 and they are waiting for us to raise them. We will announce it in the next few months, no later than (the announcement of) the budget," he said.
Cuepacs president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat was reported as saying that the salaries of rank and file civil servants could not cover their commitments following a rise in living costs.
Anwar also gave attention to Penang, his birth state, saying he has urged the state government to ease the plight of 150 families who are classed as destitute.
He said he wished to see these households reach low-middle income status by June.
If that happens, Penang will no longer have hardcore poverty.
Anwar, who is the Tambun MP, said the Prime Minister’s Department, has set this agenda as top priority.
“While we push for investments in Penang, we must also put an end to hardcore poverty,” he said.
Anwar said he wishes to help the hardcore poor in Penang to set up small businesses, like how he helped rehabilitate 90% of small businesses and itinerant hawkers in Kuala Lumpur.
Anwar noted that as the country's population grows, more must be done to increase the supply of affordable homes.
The government has approved the building of 70,000 homes in the Klang Valley.
“If possible I would give billions (to the country)… but at the same time, we have inherited a bothersome debt from the past governments.” – The Vibes, April 6, 2024.
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