No gifts for me, PM tells the public

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim cautioned the public on giving him souvenirs.

In a Facebook post, Anwar said that while he appreciated the gesture, it was a practice that did not suit management and leadership ethics.

“I would like to remind everyone not to give me any souvenirs. This culture must be stopped.

“I appreciate the good intentions of everyone, however, this is incompatible with the ethics of management and leadership, as well as it burdens the rakyat,” he said.

Meanwhile, at a separate event, Anwar explained he has given the instruction because it was burdensome, and also raises ethical concerns.

He recounted his experience when he was first appointed as youth and sports minister in 1983, and later visited Kelantan.

Nothing new

There, Anwar said he was feted with gifts by a ministry official whom he knew from his student days at Universiti Malaya.

“I asked where the allocation (for the gifts) came from.

“He said it wasn’t from a government allocation. Then? He collected (the money) from all his staff. I said that is unreasonable because my salary is ten-fold more than your staff’s.

“So, I gave the order, and I am reissuing it today - because I will start making visits,” he said at a gathering with reformasi activists, based on a video posted on his Facebook account.

Nevertheless, Anwar joked with his audience that he will still accept gifts of banana fritters and Japanese sweet potatoes, while appearing to point at specific members of the crowd.

“But not too much. Otherwise, I’d sell it,” he added.

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