[UPDATED] You want proof? Brace yourself then, Anwar tells Dr Mahathir

SHAH ALAM – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he will furnish evidence demanded by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the prime minister claimed the latter had amassed wealth during his premiership to enrich his family.

This is in response to the nonagenarian’s letter of demand to the Pakatan Harapan chairman recently, in which he also called for the accusations to be retracted.

Speaking at a dialogue session with the UiTM student representatives council, Anwar said while there is no doubt that some good came out of Dr Mahathir’s administration previously, the elder statesman had also left much damage in his trail.

“I don’t want to fight. But if he is asking for proof, I will give proof. No problem,” he said, here, today.

Anwar was responding to a question from the floor on his view of Mahathir’s recent legal action. 

On March 27, Mahathir had issued Anwar a demand letter to retract his claims – that the former prime minister had amassed wealth to enrich his family while in power – within seven days, or face a suit. 

The letter was in reference to the PKR president’s speech at the party congress, which Mahathir said had painted him in a bad light. 

Later on April 4, Mahathir’s lawyer, Rafique Rashid, said he had received a notice from Anwar’s firm, Thomas Philip, requesting an extension to April 17 to respond to the demand letter, which was allowed. 

Meanwhile, in today’s dialogue session, Anwar also hit out at Mahathir who accused Malays of being lazy, ungrateful and forgetful – labels the former had branded as inaccurate. 

Without going into detail, Anwar noted that many great figures, thinkers and intellectuals are from among the majority race.

“How can Malays be deemed lazy when Melaka, for example, was a popular international cosmopolitan and trading hub?

“This is an issue of the leaders’ thinking,” he said. 

Anwar further pointed out that laziness and forgetfulness are not exclusive to Malays, but that all races are susceptible to such traits. – The Vibes, April 7, 2023