‘Ensure equal opportunity for all’

We must to adhere to these rules all the time, says Anwar.

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri An­­war Ibrahim (pic) says the government’s economic agenda must be focused on needs-based and not race-based policies.

He said there was no room for racial politics to move the country forward.

“It is politically convenient to rile people up. But I will not compromise on this issue – our economic agenda must be needs-based, not race-based.

“We must shed racial politics and fear-mongering in order for Malay­sia to progress,” the PKR president tweeted yesterday.

Anwar’s post was also accompanied by an infographic on his re­­commendations for poverty issues affecting the country at the Dewan Rakyat on March 18.

The graphic said there was a need to move on from the Malay agenda to the Rakyat agenda to eradicate poverty for everyone.

It said if poverty was eradicated, the Malays would automatically stand to benefit too.

The graphic added that the distribution of income and gains that was concentrated on the elite Malays be­­fore this must be changed to ensure that there was equal opportunity for all.

It also said that a strong economy for all Malaysians was the key to guarantee the stability of the country.

Despite the Port Dickson MP’s calls for an economic agenda based on needs and not race, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had previously said that Pa­ka­­tan must be brave and not be hesitant in fulfilling its promises, especially on the Malay and bumiputra agenda. The Economic Affairs Minister had also said that they “must do so without feeling apologetic or be fearful of criticism from others”.

In another posting on Twitter, Anwar also shared his thoughts about the political infighting in Britain’s Conservative Party, also known as the Tory Party, to oust Prime Minister Theresa May.

“Like many political parties, the Tories would be in a stronger position if some members focused on their principles and responsibilities to the country.

“Political infighting for personal gain has been the downfall of many a government,” he tweeted.

Anwar’s tweets put the spotlight on the simmering feud between the factions within PKR, either supporting Azmin or Anwar-backed PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

Earlier, Azmin had tweeted that the country needed “doers who are prepared to tough it out all the way, not cry babies”.

“Whatever it takes, we must make it work. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen,” he added.

Azmin’s tweet appeared to have been aimed at former PKR vice-pre­sident Nurul Izzah Anwar who had quit the Parliament’s Public Ac­­counts Committee and had said that she was “broken hearted” as she had to once again work with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Moha­mad in an interview with Singa­pore’s Straits Times.