Without fear or favour: Anwar delivering a speech at an event with the Sabah Industry Association at Magellan Sutera.— Bernama
KOTA KINABALU: Real heroes of the people are those who fight for the rights of all, regardless of race and religion, and those who forge togetherness instead of instigating disunity, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said of late, more leaders have attempted to be heroes of races they represent.
However, he questioned their motives, as previously they were not talking about the issues they are raising now around Sabah.
With the state polls drawing closer, people can listen to and consider what these leaders were saying, but they must analyse critically, Anwar said when addressing crowds at the Semarak Madani event at the Sabah International Convention Centre here yesterday.
In his speech, Anwar said if he were to fight based on race and religion and become a hero of the Malays, he could talk only about the Malays, but as a Prime Minister of all Malaysians, he must take care of all citizens.
“So think of Sabah and think of Malaysia as a whole, not just your own place,” he said, advising the people to vote for leaders with high integrity and values.
Anwar said as Prime Minister, the most common issue raised among Sabahans was the 40% net revenue allocation.
He reiterated that such matters needed to be addressed and discussed amicably, just like how the special grants and interim payments were given to Sabah and Sarawak after discussions and agreements reached among the parties involved.
Anwar said these payments were made based on the current Federal Government’s financial situation, as other states in the country needed to be looked after too.
However, Anwar said, leaders who raised such issues were previously federal ministers and chief ministers, and held high positions in both state and federal governments.
He claimed that many of these leaders asking people to ‘fight’ had already benefited heavily from their positions in the government and having the people’s mandate back then.
“I have always said, if you want to do something well, do it properly while you are still in power.
“Now that you have retired, you want to raise issues. What is your motive?”
Anwar said while he has always asked such questions, he never accused past leaders of not doing anything for Sabah.
“You can say it’s not perfect, it’s not satisfactory, fine. But you cannot deny the fact that we have done more.
“We are committed to assist as part and parcel of our agenda, and it is not comparable to what had been done in the past,” he said.
