PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged all parties to prioritise the people’s welfare over political power struggles, saying elections should be the proper arena for such contests.
He said the current focus must remain on addressing the rakyat’s needs instead of engaging in endless political manoeuvring.
"The focus now is on the people, not the struggle for power. Elections will be the arena for that later.
"For now, we must pay attention to the people," he said when officiating the National Youth Day 2026 celebration in Negri Sembilan on Friday (May 15).
The Prime Minister also praised Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun for his resilience and spirit in navigating prolonged political challenges.
"I salute the MB for the perseverance and spirit he has shown in enduring political turmoil," he said.
Anwar said Negri Sembilan had recorded encouraging development under Aminuddin’s leadership, citing economic growth, rising investments and increased job opportunities.
"In front of the MB himself, I want to say that Negri Sembilan has recorded development that we can be proud of.
"There is economic growth, investments are increasing and there are more job opportunities. We should not deny all this," he said.
He said the true meaning of being in government was to provide trustworthy leadership that rejects corruption and abuse of power.
"What does it mean to become a government? It means leadership that is trustworthy, not corrupt, that does not steal money and does not seize lands.
"But sometimes we talk about struggle and defending the people’s welfare, yet when choosing leaders, we choose those who are involved in corruption. That cannot be the case," he said.
Anwar added that his support for Aminuddin was based on the latter’s principles and firm stance against abuse of power.
"So when people ask why I support Aminuddin, the answer is because I know his principles – he does not compromise when it comes to abuse of power," he said.
