PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said improving the position of Islam in Selangor will be his top priority should he win the Kajang by-election and be part of the state government.

“To me, this is the priority in Selangor. I have always said this, even at the church yesterday I said I am Muslim and I want the mosques to be filled with people and Islamic preaching ( dakwah ) to be expanded.

“I want Islam’s stature ( martabat ) to be raised without curtailing the rights of followers of other religions,” he said.

Anwar was speaking at an informal tea party in Kampung Sungai Kantan, Kajang at the home of PKR’s Penanti assemblyperson Norlela Ariffin.

Addressing about 200 people, mostly middle-aged supporters of PKR, Anwar quoted the Quran to say that Muslims must always respect other religions.
 
Tailoring his speech to Malays of Javanese origin, who are widely found in Kajang, he also cited the traditions of the nine Javanese imams or Wali Songo who expanded Islam in the Malay archipelago without creating conflict or violence.
 
T his prompted local philantropist and imam Ujang Bagong to offer his Wali Songo amulet to Anwar. 
 
The Permatang Pauh MP wore it for the remainder of his speech before returning it to the elderly man, who came to hear Anwar talk with a young grandson in tow.

Economy and water

 
Anwar, who is widely tipped to be contesting the Kajang by-election in order to succeed Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as menteri besar, said that his second priority is to look into economic matters if he wins the polls.
 
He said that the prudent management of the Khalid-administration meant that the state has spare cash and this could be used to assist the everyday lives of people in Selangor.
 
Unlike his colourful speeches on the ceramah trail, Anwar's tête-à-tête with this moderate middle class audience was more restrained.
 
He also refrained from slamming his long-time nemesis and ex-boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
 
Commenting on Mahathir's claim that a vote for Anwar is a vote for USA, Anwar just said: "I don't know whether to laugh or pity him."
 
Speaking before him was DAP's Kepong MP Tan Seng Giaw who said that Pakatan Rakyat cannot deny that there are "weaknesses" in the Selangor administration which its opponent BN is taking advantage of.
 
He said that by contesting Kajang, Anwar can help Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in many ways, including recurring water shortages.
 
"With Anwar in Selangor, even the water crisis will be solved as there is actually enough water but (treated water distributor) Syabas is causing problems from time to time to keep the BN in power," he said.
 
Syabas - or Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor - said water shortages were due to broken pipes or pump breakdown is caused by the Selangor government's decision to freeze the funds meant for upgrading.
 
Selangor, however, said it will not release the funds until Syabas reduced the amount of non-revenue, or wasted, water.
 
Official campaigns commences after nomination period on March 11 while Kajang folk will hit the polling stations on March 23.