Anwar urges Rantau Malay voters not to vote along racial line

SEREMBAN: Citing the help extended to him by the late Karpal Singh when he was charged, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged Rantau voter not to support Umno which plays up racial and religious sentiments.

“Gobind Singh’s father and sister represented me and fought for my case. 

"I am a Malay, they are not. I am a Muslim, they are not. But they fought for me. 

"This is due to principle, for justice. So why can’t Malays do the same?” he asked at a ceramah in Rantau town. 

“I am totally against what Umno-PAS is promoting. I know there are poor Malays, but there are also Chinese, Indians, Iban and Kadazans who are poor and need our help,” he said. 

Anwar, who is Port Dickson MP, said the country belonged to all, not only the Malays and Muslims. 

“They said Umno-PAS reunion is needed to take care of the survival of the Malays. But the Prime Minister, Mentri Besar are Malays. 

"The Raja-raja are still Malay. The national language is still Malay and the official religion is still Islam,” he said. 

“Just because I put an Indian candidate here in Rantau, Malays are not supporting him?” he questioned. 

“If we think like Umno, the country will be destroyed,” he warned. 

Anwar also urged voters in Rantau to choose a party that took care of all and stopped corruption.

“Besides being embroiled in 1MDB scandal, Najib did not even pay income tax,” he said. 

Citing the example of Felda, he said Malaysians should not think along racial line.

“Najib put his friend (Tan Sri Mohd) Isa Abdul Samad as the chairman of FGV Bhd. Felda is now laden with a debt of RM8bil. Are they Chinese? They are Malays,” he said.  

Anwar said he would ensure Pakatan Harapan's Dr S. Streram took care of the Malays if he won. 

“We are getting the good Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans to build the nation. They don’t steal, they are honest. They work together and the country will develop. 

"It's only in such a way that we can have a safe and advanced country,” he said. 

Anwar also urged voters working out of town to come back and vote in the by-election to send a clear message that they were against racial politics and corruption.