KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has disagreed with assertions that Malay-Muslim voters are to be blamed for being influenced by racial and religious sentiments during the recently-held state polls.
Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, said that the issue should instead be seen as a challenge for the unity government to improve efforts and impress the people on the Madani concept.
“It takes time (to educate the people on the Madani initiative). I don’t agree with certain quarters blaming Malay voters for being susceptible to racial and religious sentiments (that) incite them to fear the Chinese and DAP.
“It’s the responsibility of unity government leaders and machinery to work harder in addressing and handling (the explanation) of our policies,” he said when met by reporters after officiating a ground-breaking ceremony at Sungai Besi here today.
Anwar also said during the Cabinet meeting yesterday, he had informed ministers that the government must carry out its duties with sincerity as it is “impossible to be rejected due to (his administration’s) sincerity and firm rejection against corruption.”
Besides that, the prime minister said that the rise in support for right-wing ideologies is not unique to Malaysia and can instead be considered a global phenomenon.
“(The increase in right-wing narratives) is not something out of the ordinary. Despite technological and educational advancements in Europe, they are still seeing a rise in fascism and neo-Nazi beliefs.”
While the state polls on Saturday saw PH and unity government partner Barisan Nasional (BN) maintaining its status quo hold on three states, PH also ended up losing its two-thirds majority in Selangor for the first time in 15 years.
The loss has been attributed to rival Perikatan Nasional (PN) making significant inroads in conservative Malay-Muslim areas.
When asked to comment on PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s call for the prime minister and his deputy, BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to step down following the state election results, Anwar implied that the call makes little sense.
“We regained our hold on three states and we still have a two-thirds majority in Parliament. What is he (Muhyiddin) talking about?
“I advise (Muhyiddin) to focus on his court case,” Anwar said, referring to the three money laundering charges against Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin had previously urged unity government leaders to step down from their positions, claiming that the election results were a “referendum” against Anwar’s administration. — August 17, 2023