GOMBAK — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed his gratitude to the G70 collective of Malay professors, who recently called upon the public to reject state election candidates exploiting religious and racial sentiments.
Addressing a joint ceramah event of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance in the Hulu Kelang state constituency last night, Anwar acknowledged that although he is not personally acquainted with the G70 members, he stands behind the message they conveyed in a statement released on Wednesday.
“When I received the statement that was sent to me, I was touched. They (G70) are not politicians and they have not been promised any rewards. They have never even met me.
“They stated their stand… this country has had enough of corruption, racism, fanaticism and those who ride on religion,” Anwar, who is also PH chairman, said to a crowd of about 4,000 people who had shown up to show their support for candidates from the PH-BN alliance.
Directing his criticism at Perikatan Nasional (PN), Anwar criticised the coalition led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for consistently engaging in defamatory tactics against their rivals.
“Why would we allow liars to come here? Why should we listen to them and entertain their lies?” he questioned.
Targeting PN’s candidate for Hulu Kelang, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is set to compete against Wanita PKR chief Juwairiya Zulkifli, Anwar affirmed that the former PKR deputy president is a “traitor” who will be bested by Juwairiya.
“They claim to be clean, but what they actually do is sapu bersih (rob the house clean),” he said in an apparent reference to PN’s purported scandal involving abuse of power relating to government funds and projects.
Meanwhile, caretaker Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who was present at the event, said that while PN might attempt to ramp up its “slander” against unity government parties leading up to polling day, the coalition will not be spared from legal ramifications.
“During these final moments (before polling day on August 12), they will spread and repeat their slander (against PH and BN).
“Don’t worry, let them continue their attempts. God willing, they will not escape from our lawyers (who will) send letters of demand because they (PN) have tarnished our name,” he added. — August 11, 2023