MELAKA: Ministers and leaders in the unity government should settle their differences around the Cabinet table, not take their disagreements on the campaign trail, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Taking a swipe at the tendency of political leaders to criticise one another despite being part of the same administration, the Prime Minister said they should use Cabinet meetings to air their grievances instead of allowing disputes to play out in public.
He said differences of opinion were inevitable in a unity government comprising parties with different political backgrounds, but leaders must remain committed to working together.
"These are my friends in the government. During campaigning, they attack the government. But in the government, we have fellow ministers, this minister and that minister.
"If you agree or disagree, speak up in Cabinet. Tomorrow morning, we have a meeting at 9am. From 9am to 12.30pm, three hours. Speak up," he said in his speech at the Malam Harapan event at Pay Fong Middle School hall here on Thursday (Nov 5).
He said the government must remain focused on ensuring stability and governing the country instead of allowing political differences to undermine its work.
On the cost of living, Anwar said the government needed to find at least RM40bil annually to cover fuel subsidies, adding that petrol prices in Malaysia remained among the cheapest in the world compared with other oil-producing countries.
"The subsidies were necessary to ease the burden on the people, particularly amid rising global fuel prices," he said.
Anwar also cautioned against politicians who played up racial and religious sentiments, saying the government had a responsibility to safeguard the interests of all Malaysians, regardless of their background.
He said national unity was crucial for the country to remain stable and attract investments, adding that the government must look after Malays, Chinese, Indians as well as the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
On corruption, Anwar said political leaders should not use their positions to enrich themselves, stressing that public resources, including land, shares, contracts and projects, must not be treated as personal property.
"If we make mistakes, we apologise. We can learn and listen. But we do not steal people's property. We do not take state land, shares, contracts or projects," he said.
Also present were Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and Melaka DAP chairman and Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong.
