Find new president if you want me to work with the corrupt - Anwar
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim told party members today who regarded him as a failure for not being able to become prime minister to find a new president.
In his policy speech at PKR National Congress, Anwar said he could have been the prime minister last year with the support of Umno MPs, including those facing criminal trials, but backed off as he not willing to compromise his principles.
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim told party members today who regarded him as a failure for not being able to become prime minister to find a new president.
In his policy speech at PKR National Congress, Anwar said he could have been the prime minister last year with the support of Umno MPs, including those facing criminal trials, but backed off as he not willing to compromise his principles.
"There are those who said I have failed as a leader.
"(To these people), you listen here. If you wish to see me succeed by succumbing to the corrupt, then you go and find another person to be your party president," he said to the loud cheers of party delegates at the congress venue in Shah Alam.
Anwar earlier told the congress of how close he was about to be made prime minister last year as 15 Umno MPs had also agreed to support him on top of the 105 opposition MPs.
However, the opposition chief said he had to pull the handbrake at the last minute when several Umno leaders facing criminal trials allegedly asked him to agree to close their cases.
"I told them that it is impossible for me to agree to close the court cases against top leaders in Umno and BN.
"I did not apologise to them. I just told them 'thank you (for the offer)', but I would rather we fight and face each other in the general election," he added.
'Last refuge for the scoundrel'
In his speech, Anwar also took a swipe at politicians who claim that they champion Islam and the Malay race but at the same time steal billions of ringgit from the country.
While not naming anyone specifically, the Port Dickson MP likened the Malaysian politicians to former Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa who recently had to flee his country.
"This Rajapaksa had oppressed his people and created animosity between the Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus (in Sri Lanka). In the end, he got kicked out of his country by the people after (they found out) that he had been stealing from the country's coffers," he said.
Anwar said that self-centred people like Rajapaksa exist in politics.
"They would (use religion and race) when they are desperate. They would say that they are doing what they do for the country, for Islam, for the Malay race.
"They could say this when what they were doing actually goes against what Islam teaches.
"That is why there is this saying, that patriotism is the last refuge for the scoundrel," he said.
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