SEREMBAN: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed that he once challenged politicians who style themselves as defenders of the Malays to declare their wealth and hand back half of it to the community they claim to fight for.
Speaking at a Pakatan Harapan ceramah in Senawang on Wednesday (July 22) night, the Prime Minister said too many self-proclaimed Malay champions had quietly amassed fortunes while ordinary Malays struggled.
"There was a minister whose assets, when he died, were traced at RM4bil. Another passed away with RM2bil," he told the crowd, without naming anyone.
"Is it reasonable to be that rich? This is the record."
He offered to produce evidence if challenged.
"Let them challenge me — I will bring out the record."
Anwar said he had issued the challenge before and was still waiting for a reply.
"I told them: you who claim to fight for the Malays — how much do you have, RM1bil, RM2bil? If you are sincere, give back half to the Malays," he said.
"Until today, not one has answered. But the moment I say the word 'sakau', they get angry."
"Sakau" is the slang for looting public money.
"Did I curse anyone? Did I slander anyone? If this isn't made clear, the Malays will keep being misled,” Anwar added.
Anwar said he had never enriched himself in office.
"If I wanted wealth, I would have compromised long ago and not been stripped bare, beaten and imprisoned,” he said.
Negri Sembilan goes to the polls on Aug 1, with early voting on July 28.
Pakatan is contesting all 36 seats against a Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional pact, with 21 three-cornered fights.
