KUALA LUMPUR – Certain people are riling up the Indian community to incite hatred for the unity government, which serves their personal interests, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“We have Mitra (Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit), to which we have allocated RM1 million. Some will say that Mitra is the only thing (the unity government has done for the Indian community).
“They will try to influence the Indian community so Indians don’t understand (the government’s efforts). Some of those trying to incite (such sentiments) have vested interests.
“Sometimes, he acts ‘bebal’ (obstinate) because his party did not give him a position, (but) that’s not my problem. That’s a problem he should face within the party, where some of them are my friends,” he said in a televised interview last night.
While Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, did not name the individual he was referring to, Indian leaders have been embroiled in an ongoing spat after United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimal) chairman P. Ramasamy accused the coalition of failing to fulfil its promises.
Ramasamy, a former Penang deputy chief minister II, quit DAP last year after he was dropped as a candidate in the state election.
His call for Indian voters to boycott the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election was met with criticism from government lawmakers, including Communication Minister and PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil, who suggested that Ramasamy “lacked affection” and should consider joining opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional.
Yesterday, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke accused Ramasamy of being “directionless”, lambasting his efforts as being motivated by his vindictiveness for not being chosen during the Penang state polls.
Meanwhile, Anwar took a jab at previous government leaders who have since found themselves embroiled in criminal cases linked to abuse of power, saying they should be the ones feeling remorseful.
The prime minister drew links between his decision to forego his allowance as Khazanah Nasional Bhd chairman and government initiatives, such as the Jana Wibawa project.
Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan is currently being tried for alleged bribery amounting to RM6.9 million linked with a company part of the project.
“When I realised that I was receiving an allowance from Khazanah, I returned the funds. But (there are still some people saying) those who take (from the nation) are not wrong; those who stole (from) Jana Wibawa and other projects are not wrong,” Anwar said.
“What sort of mentality, values and morality is this? If I were to allow misdeeds during my time in government, such as by allowing direct tenders that benefit (government figures’) family members or cronies, then I could be attacked. But I have strictly not allowed such practices.”
Anwar was on the “Soal Jawab Perdana Menteri” programme, which was hosted by Sayed Munawar Sayed Mustar of RTM, Pasha Abdul Rahim (Bernama TV), Muhammad Zulfitri Yusof (Awani), and Azaria Tagaya (TV3).
The prime minister also assured the Indians that they had not been sidelined as various initiatives were implemented to empower the community. – May 2, 2024