KOTA DAMANSARA – PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim took a swipe at Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s priorities when the latter was prime minister before.
In a rally here last night, Anwar who is the current prime minister claimed that Muhyiddin did not have his priorities in order when he chose to repair Seri Perdana.
Seri Perdana is the prime minister’s official residence located in Putrajaya.
Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, said the cost to repair Seri Perdana was RM38 million.
“...I’d like to ask the ustaz in PAS to answer me. Amidst people who don’t have enough to eat, people who are out of jobs, the disabled, and the poor, you choose to repair your house. Why? And they are asking the youth to follow them.
“If the youth still don’t get it, come and see me…I will take you to visit Seri Perdana...(you who are) not working, and are given RM100 by people for a job to hit out at others on a daily basis…what is the point when you don’t have a (regular) job?” he said.
Also present at the “Arus Merah Kuning” campaign event were Selangor caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Sungai Buloh MP Datuk R. Ramanan, both of PKR.
Anwar said he was very angry with the decision to repair Seri Perdana at a time many were going through hardship.
This is why people need to evaluate leaders when they are in power, he said.
“Evaluate them based on their work...not what they wear, (regardless of) Baju Melayu, tie, coat, kopiah or serban. When they were in power, they just talked but their actions did not reflect their words.
“Don’t just talk and do nothing. When you were the government you took money, projects and forgot those who are suffering,” he said.
Anwar also slammed former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had been criticising the government for not fighting for the Malays and instead giving more to the Chinese.
Anwar stressed that the core of this country is the Malays and the Malay culture and that Bahasa Melayu is the official language.
“I am strict about this, that is why the allocations for Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and the Translation Institute are more than what Perikatan Nasional gave when they were in power.
“The allocation for the Islamic Development Department was also increased and yet they keep saying this government is not Islamic,” he said.
Anwar also reiterated that he would not forgive those who took the rakyat’s land and money and stole timber.
“Openly I am saying this, I forgive Tan Sri Rahim Noor (former inspector-general of police) who hit me and insulted me. I forgive the media whose front pages every day said Anwar was a foreign agent, involved in a sex scandal and so much more – including that I was a tool for the Chinese and the Jews. I forgive them all.
“But I cannot forgive those who stole from the rakyat’s funds, took state land and stole timber. I want them to be investigated,” he remarked.
Anwar stressed that the investigations were done by the relevant enforcement agencies and not himself.
“I don’t want to make too many promises, just that we will try our best to implement changes to make things better.” – The Vibes, July 30, 2023
