KUALA LUMPUR — The government has no problem with the ‘Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah’ anti-graft rally to be held in the capital tomorrow, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the government does not tolerate corruption, adding that his administration has not see any major corruption issues in the last two years.
“If you want to gather, go ahead… we have no problem, permission has been given. The Home Minister already said permission was given, only that the owner of some venues have not given their permission.
“But for me, personally, there is no problem. Do it-lah, go ahead and protest corruption,” Anwar told reporters after performing Friday prayers at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Dengkil Islamic Centre in Sepang today.
He was asked to comment on Kuala Lumpur police warning organisers of the gathering tomorrow that they had yet to submit a revised notice of assembly with permission from the venue owners.
The protest, organised by various civil society groups, is to begin at 2.30 pm outside the Sogo shopping centre on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, and participants are to march to Dataran Merdeka.
Earlier, Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the police had not yet received a complete notification notice for the rally as the previous notice submitted did not have permission from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for the use of Dataran Merdeka.
However, Anwar said that corruption should be protested against adding that he and the government are against graft and will not compromise with any member of the administration who is found to be involved in corruption.
“I am committed, if there are any leaders who are involved, let them know, no problem, we will press them, no problem.”
He acknowledged that civil society had voiced objections to various issues, including the appointment of Tun Musa Aman as Sabah Governor because of his previous corruption charges which were subsequently dropped.
But, he added, Musa’s acquittal was not done under his administration.
“(Yet) I am slandered and criticised over an issue I was not involved in.
“What I am involved in for the last two years, I will not tolerate corruption whether it is at the low or high level,” Anwar added. – January 24, 2025