GEORGE TOWN – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today assured that there is no safe place for the corrupt as long as he is prime minister.
“I'm calling on the young to join the cause (to save the country from corruption),” he said, making this pledge as he addressed students at a town hall session in Universiti Sains Malaysia today.
He said economic issues impacting the most vulnerable are also the result of widespread corruption.
Responding to questions from the floor, the prime minister said corruption has become systemic and part of the culture because people have, for too long, not spoken up against it.
“It has become the norm. When an instruction to approve something is made, no questions are asked,” Anwar said.
“But all this has been going on before, and now that I am prime minister, these things are also being exposed. I am exposing them,” Anwar said.
“I want this country to return to the right path, and you, the students, can help pivot the country’s direction (to the right one),” Anwar said.
Citing the RM92.5 billion Jana Wibawa mega scandal that allegedly took place during the administration of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the RM9 billion littoral combat ships reportedly under Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s watch, Anwar said leakages like these cost the nation RM4.5 trillion over 26 years.
“They were stealing, and I won’t rest until these ‘penyangak’ (thugs) and ‘penyakau’ (pilferers) are made to pay,” he said.
“My priorities are to take care of the most vulnerable, starting with the hardcore poor, children who have no running water, schools with no proper toilets, police and army barracks which are in dilapidated condition, and so on,” he said.
The session is part of Anwar’s “Temu Anwar” town halls series that sees the prime minister traversing the country to meet people from all walks of life. – The Vibes, June 11, 2023
