Anwar willing to be a tool to defend royal institution

SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he is willing to be a “tool” to defend the country’s constitutional monarchy despite criticisms lobbed at him for respecting the royal institution.

The PKR de facto leader contended that it was the duty of Malaysians to uphold the royal establishment as it was a substantial part of the country’s foundation.

In his speech last night in support of PKR candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni’s Sungai Kandis by-election campaign, Anwar suggested that there were some in Pakatan Harapan (PH) who disagreed with him on the matter.

“Someone said I am pro-monarchy because I had sought audiences with Malay rulers.

“Moreover, the sultan of Johor came to visit me in Turkey after I underwent surgery for my hip and shoulder,” he said in his first public appearance since his return from Istanbul.

“In the Federal Constitution, we accept the constitutional monarchy (as part of the country’s foundation). I have no problem to be a tool to defend the constitutional monarchy.”

Soon after PH won the 14th General Election and Anwar was granted a royal pardon over his sodomy conviction, the former deputy prime minister had sought audiences with Malay rulers, including the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, sultan of Johor and sultan of Selangor.

He was reported as saying that the meetings were to assure the rulers that PH would uphold the royal institution.

He assured the people that Zawawi would uphold the institution.

It is believed that Anwar was responding to claims by Barisan Nasional leaders, including its by-election candidate Datuk Lokman Noor Adam, that PH was sidelining the royal institution, Malays and Islam.

He reiterated the importance of Bahasa Melayu as the national language and rejected the notion that its use had impeded the mastery of other languages.

“Bahasa Melayu is the national language. There is no compromise on it. We will heed the national language framework. We want the national language to be grasped well by all. But, we will not impede the use of other languages.”

He reminded the government to refrain from issuing statements that could cause distress among the people.

He said the power gained through a change of government was a duty that must be shouldered responsibly.

“I do not deny that there are distressing and worrying statements (issued by the government)... but it (the government) has not strayed from the right track.

“We need to remind (the government) that the change of guard is a duty entrusted (by the people).

Anwar said some had claimed that PH was too lax in its governance.

“I admit that PH is a new government and sometimes, there are careless and celupar (loose cannon) statements, to an extent that I was surprised it was uttered by ministers.”

However, he said, the government would not stray from upholding the Federal Constitution.

Bahasa Melayu is the national language. There is no compromise on it. We will heed the national language framework.

DATUK SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM PKR de facto leader