KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim appeared to not feel out of place at today’s Umno general assembly proceedings, despite having been excluded from the event for a quarter of a century after he was sacked from the party.
Anwar said that he is comfortable with attending the opening ceremony of Umno’s general assembly, which marked the first time he graced the event after he was expelled from the Barisan Nasional (BN) linchpin in 1998 under the presidency of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Of course, I am at ease here because I am used to the environment (of the Umno general assembly). In fact, I still remember the Umno party song,” he told reporters at the World Trade Centre here today.
His comment was not without proof, as during the event Anwar was seen singing along to the party anthem Bersatu, Bersetia, Berkhidmat while waving a mini Umno flag alongside top party leaders, such as president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and representatives from other BN component members.
The last time Anwar addressed the Umno general assembly was six months before his expulsion in 1998, during which time he was the party’s deputy president.
Commenting on his attendance at today’s proceedings, Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, said that he wanted to use the event as a platform to strengthen the unity government for the sake of the nation.
“What is most important is that we fulfil our duty to our country. Personal experiences are important, but they cannot be placed above the nation’s and citizens’ welfare,” he said.
Earlier today, Anwar’s arrival at the historic Dewan Merdeka was greeted by thundering applause and cheers from nearly 3,000 delegates from across the country.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak chief whip, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, and party presidents who support the unity government. – The Vibes, June 9, 2023
