GEORGE TOWN – The Penang assembly sitting concluded with the passing of the state budget for next year, but not before cheers and applause dominated the House when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was announced as the nation’s 10th prime minister.
There were hugs and handshakes among most of the backbenchers at around noon when reports surfaced that Anwar, a Penangite, had received royal assent to lead Putrajaya in a unity government.
Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, was born in Cherok To’kun in Bukit Mertajam and had attended Bukit Mertajam High School and Malay College Kuala Kangsar before completing his tertiary education at University Malaya.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was among the first state PH leaders to congratulate the new prime minister, sharing photographs of Anwar and him during the early era of the “reformasi” movement.
He said that the PH-led Penang government looks forward to collaborating with the federal government.
Chow also joined other elected representatives in the assembly building’s cafeteria where they congratulated each other.
Bayan Lepas assemblyman Azrul Mahathir Aziz posted various photos of joy and celebration on social media, as he noted that it took Anwar more than 20 years to redeem himself from being a prisoner of conscience to becoming prime minister.
Azrul however cautioned that the celebrations were brief, as they did not want to aggravate any party over the appointment.
Among those who broke down was Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Lee, who shared his relief that at least the country now has a prime minister in place to begin the hard work of steering the country back onto a progressive path.
“I hope the national unity which I had also mooted months earlier can be the solution to the toxicity in the country,” he said. “Let us heal and move forward as one nation.”
Former Balik Pulau MP Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff, who is now aiding Anwar’s legal office, posted on social media of how proud he was at DAP’s magnanimity when both its chairman Lim Guan Eng and secretary-general Anthony Loke apologised to the Sarawak government over offensive remarks previously uttered.
“This sacrifice by DAP will be remembered as the nation moves forward. I hope our Sarawak counterparts will be open towards realising the ambitions of every Malaysian, which are peace and the sharing of prosperity,” he said.
Later, the assembly adjourned sine die with the next sitting to be scheduled for next year. – The Vibes, November 24, 2022
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