PETALING JAYA – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has taken his political detractors to task for failing to come up with effective solutions to lift the country out of its economic doldrums.
Referring to his rejected motion to debate the economy in Dewan Rakyat yesterday, he slammed Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional lawmakers who labelled him “PM tepi” – which means prime minister on the sidelines and also a wordplay on a phrase used by Malaysians to ask people for a private message.
The term is often used to sneer at Anwar for failing to become prime minister following the Sheraton Move in February 2020 – where party-hoppers brought an end to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
Say what you want about me being a ‘PM tepi’ but at least I don’t cheat or betray the people.
“Unlike those who openly squandered the public trust and enrich themselves,” he said to huge applause and cheers from the crowd.
Anwar, who is PH chairman and PKR president, was speaking at the Jelajah Rakyat talk in Bandar Sri Damansara here last night.
He then turned his “guns” on the government, questioning its leaders’ sincerity in tackling the rising cost of living, and claiming that they often kowtow to corporate interest.
“There isn’t anyone in the government who dared to deal with the big ‘tauke’ (tycoons). They say ‘hidup Melayu, hidup Islam’ (long live the Malays, long live Islam). But when prices of goods go up, they don’t dare to negotiate with these rich tycoons.”
He also brought up the criticism hurled at his PKR deputy Rafizi Ramli for highlighting the plight of the people.
The event was attended by more than 300 people and included speeches from PKR communication chief Fahmi Fadzil, Youth chief Adam Adli, and Ampang divisional chief Datuk Hans Isaac
Datuk Zaharin Mohd Yasin, who was sacked from Umno last Friday, was seen in the crowd and even acknowledged by the event’s host.
While no specific reason was given for his removal, Zaharin claimed that due to his criticism of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zaharin also claimed that some “friends” in PKR were supportive of him running for the Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary seat in the general election under the party’s ticket. – The Vibes, October 4, 2022
