PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on his fellow countrymen not to be distracted by trivial issues along the lines of parochial, race and religion.
Such issues raised by those opposing him were merely to distract people from what counts in governing the country, which is the struggle to develop Malaysia until she becomes an affluent nation.
"Trivial matters tend to disrupt the country's efforts to emerge as a developed nation which enjoys mutually beneficial ties with other countries," said Anwar.
Now is not the time for the people to focus on narrow-mindedness, racial issues, regional issues and so on because it would not help the quest to attain prosperity to be enjoyed by the majority of the people.
"Don't succumb to the narratives that we must defend corruption, defend waste, play on racial issues and defend grand corruption. All of this will not help our country.
"We want the people to focus on the big things, not on the issue of tourism videos that don't show pictures of mosques, causing a huge fight. Kelantan tourism videos don't even show mosques."
Anwar said this after overseeing the groundbreaking ceremony of the RM10.9 billion Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) line project at Sri Pinang township in Penang.
Previously, the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 montage video received criticism, including from opposition leaders who urged the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to withdraw the video because it allegedly did not capture mosque elements.
Whereas it showed other places of worship such as temples and shrines.
The video, which was uploaded via Tourism Malaysia's official Facebook page, features several tourist destinations, including Petaling Street and Pasar Seni in Kuala Lumpur, Mulu Caves (Sarawak), Skywalk Langkawi (Kedah), Batu Caves (Selangor) and a heritage church in Malacca.
Anwar said the country needs to be focused on maintaining relations with foreign powers such as China, the United States and the European Union.
"If the country can maintain good cooperation with several foreign countries such as the United States, China and Thailand, believe me, Malaysia will make history and be elevated as a great country in the region.
"Malaysia is currently becoming an attraction when it is often chosen by major foreign leaders to visit as well as hold important conferences. I am moved by this because it rarely happens to the country."
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the country needs commitment from civil servants to ensure that national development can be implemented properly.
"If there are these trivial issues, do you think the country can focus on big projects such as the new energy hub in Sarawak, and the flood mitigation project in Kelantan for RM1 billion? That's why we need the focus of all leaders and civil servants."
"If you listen to all these instigators' words, no one will benefit, no one will prosper and this country will regress with divisions among the races," he said. - January 11, 2025.
