'File motion for no-confidence vote at next Dewan sitting': Anwar to opposition

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has challenged the opposition to file a motion for a vote of no confidence against him at the Dewan Rakyat session this October.

The PKR president said the opposition should follow the law and not just play on sentiments or go about shouting for him to “step down” from his premiership.

“There are 30 people telling Anwar to step down (from the position of prime minister)... what do they think, this country has no rules, no law, no system (Parliament)?

“To urge someone to step down, please file a motion for a vote of no confidence in the Dewan Rakyat session this October... even if the motion is late, I will approve it,” he said at the Keadilan Gathering: “Suara Rakyat Suara Keramat” in Kuala Lumpur last night.

The gathering, themed “From Reformasi to Malaysia Madani” and held at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, was also attended by the prime minister’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh, PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil and nearly 10,000 people.

Anwar said the actions of the opposition leaders were also seen as trying to recklessly influence their supporters with the sentiment of dismissing him as prime minister.

He also criticised the attitude of the opposition who do not reflect the struggle of Islam because they like to spread slander, hurl abusive words and swear at their political opponents.

The premier said the opposition also relentlessly used narratives about the efforts and success of the coalition government under his leadership.

“What else is wrong, in their speeches everything about us is not right, they say our economy is ruined... don’t they read the newspaper?

“The ringgit has strengthened. Want to talk about the economy? Know the economy then. However, they just go about spreading lies,” he said during the gathering organised by PKR and NGOs to commemorate the start of the Reformasi movement on Sept 20, 1998.

Honourable prisoner

Anwar also chided the attitude of the opposition who often used his status as an ex-convict as capital to criticise his administration.

“Yes, I am indeed an ex-prisoner, but an honourable prisoner who faced cruel and vile accusations,” he stressed.

He added that the current generation of the opposition seems to have no capital by only hurling slander and insults, whereas when he was a victim of tyranny while in power as deputy prime minister, there were big names in the opposition like PAS fighters and religious people who defended his fate.

He named former PAS presidents Fadzil Mohd Noor and Nik Aziz Nik Mat, as well as former grand imam of the National Mosque Ustaz Taib Azamudden Mohd Taib, as people who stood up for him.

Anwar insisted that during the two years he had steered the administration, he did not allow any tender to be taken by the country’s leaders.

It was different when the opposition was in power for almost two years.

“Name what was not taken, Bestari Net, Jana Wibawa, flood mitigation contract, everything was swiped in the name of religion and race.

“I kept quiet for a long time... tonight I am not speaking as the prime minister but as Anwar Ibrahim, the reformist,” he said.

- Bernama

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