KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he will not tolerate any form of corruption and will let the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) act on high-profile cases.
“We have many alleged wrongdoings involving Sabah leaders this year.
"And then the MACC responded, 'Yes, we will investigate'," he said after a meet-the-people function at Kionsom Inanam near here on Friday (Sept 26).
Anwar said the people's money lost to any corrupt acts will be recovered.
He said billions have been recovered, adding that he can forgive those who try to shame him but not those who steal public funds.
He also said even though he had spent years in jail and struggled, the one thing he will not accept is anyone stealing the people’s money.
“I have no power to forgive. I want to recover the money and give it back to the people. That is not my money. You steal, you give it back.
"Some people say I am vengeful but (this is not) vengeance... We need to take care of this country," he added.
He said rank or position do not matter, as those involved have to be punished and face the penalty even if they have Datuk Seri or Tan Sri titles.
He also said that with the Sabah elections coming, leaders should not play divisive politics but focus on building a united country for all.
Anwar said a lot has been said against peninsula-based political parties, bordering on regionalism, race and extremism, which is not good for Malaysia in the eyes of the world.
"There is nothing wrong in waiting to protect your own race and religion, but do not hate others," he said, adding that the problem lies not with the state but with leaders who took such sentiments to the extreme.
"If you use race or seditious sentiments, out you go. Yes, we need to fight, but do not fight friends," he said.
Anwar also said it was not right to blame many of Sabah's problems on the Federal Government.
He said some Sabah leaders had been in Putrajaya too and held top positions, accumulating wealth for themselves and their families, but once they were out of power, they began finding fault with the current administration.
"What is the difference between being in power and not in power? Being in power is when you should be doing your best for the people, not after retiring.
“So I ask (these leaders): what did you do when you were in power?"
