KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that while he could still forgive individuals who beat him while under custody in prison, he would never compromise with those who stole billions of ringgit from the state.
“I’ll forgive (them) even if I was nearly beaten to death, as it is a personal matter but if billions were stolen, I’ll have no power to forgive,” he said.
According to him, he will not use his power to forgive those involved in stealing the country’s revenue.
“I have no intention of digging up and unearthing all past weaknesses unless it involves funds that must be returned to the country’s (coffers),” he said during the keynote speech at Wisma Putra, here, last night.
Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
According to Harian Metro, Anwar said stolen monies belong to the people and it is the duty of the enforcement authorities to return them so that the funds are utilised for the benefit of the people.
“Poor schools can be upgraded, school toilets can be improved, clinics have to be upgraded, the plight of people who have been hit by tragedies and the Covid-19 epidemic and now floods... all of whom can be helped,” he said.
However, he said, in order to bring change to the country, including freedom from corruption and abuse of power, is not an easy task, but requires the cooperation of all parties.
“I want to emphasise that this is not something easy because we are facing forces that will prevent such change.
“The political elite group who are comfortable and happy with their power, their way of corruption by hiding, they don’t want to make any changes,” he added. – The Vibes, March 8, 2023
