KLANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will continue his tradition of having simple meals with the public at hawker stalls and eateries on Fridays to stay connected with everyday Malaysians.
Anwar shared that while many people have invited him to lunch at five-star hotels, he still prefers eating at regular stalls every Friday and plans to maintain this practice throughout his five-year term as Prime Minister.
"Why? Because I want to hear their concerns—about rent, their hawker amenities, and the prices of goods. After listening, I will try to solve their issues to the best of my abilities," Anwar said.
"It is not that I don’t understand the meaning of poverty, but this is my practice every week - to eat at stalls with the people and listen to them," said Anwar during a meet-and-greet session with West Ports Malaysia Bhd employees on Friday (Sept 27).
Anwar then took a swipe at seasonal politicians who would only show up during the election period.
"Many leaders show up at hawker stalls during elections and that’s when you will see them hugging and kissing children.
"But not me. This is the Madani government and God-willing, I will eat at hawker stalls every week for these five years," he affirmed.
Since becoming Prime Minister in Nov 2022, Anwar has made it a point to have lunch at small hawker stalls or eateries before Friday prayers.
On another note, Anwar addressed ongoing road issues along Port Klang, assuring that federal allocations will be approved to resolve them.
He acknowledged that these issues have led to accidents and stated, “Expanding the roads takes time, but I support it.
"When I return to my office after Friday prayers, I’ll have a look at it and approve the necessary funds for repairs."
During a groundbreaking ceremony at West Ports Malaysia Bhd, Anwar noted the frequency of lorry accidents in the area.
While he could not disclose specific allocations for the road expansion at this moment, he mentioned that a review is nearing completion.
"Since I'm preparing the Budget for next month, I’m in the final stage of reviewing matters. As a responsible minister, I cannot give a definite answer just yet," said Anwar, who is also Finance Minister.
Budget 2025 is set to be unveiled in Parliament on Oct 18.
