To help the poor, Malaysia needs a policy that is blind to colour, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The poor regardless of race need our help, says Port Dickson MP

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia needs a colour-blind policy to help the poor regardless of race, says PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic).

The Port Dickson lawmaker said many, including in his constituency, are plagued by abject poverty.

The fishermen and plantation estate workers are struggling despite Port Dickson being a tourist attraction, he said.

“They are not just Malays, but Chinese and Indians too.

“These are the people who were in my mind when I raised the issue of continuing subsidies and incentives for fishermen, farmers and smallholders during last week’s Budget 2019 debate.

“There is a need to push for a povertybusting agenda that is colour blind, a national narrative that is humane in nature and seeks to help those in need irrespective of race,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Anwar said he will work to attract investment that does not only look good on paper but one that will improve the daily reality of those who are currently left behind by the nation’s economic growth.

The lawmaker said he is pro market reform but detests any system that does not pay attention to those who are unable to uplift themselves, or ones that do not lead to fair and equitable growth.

“I am anti-discrimination and believe in fairness for all human beings.

“This is not mutually exclusive to my love and pride in being a Malay and a Muslim,” he added.

Anwar also paid tribute to famous writer and linguist Tan Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, better known as Za’ba, and his alma mater Universiti Malaya.

Anwar spoke at the Syarahan Za’ba 2018 event titled “Melayu dan Islam Dalam Era Malaysia Baharu (Malays and Muslims in the New Malaysia Era)” in Universiti Malaya on Friday morning.

In his speech, Anwar said Za’ba was a man ahead of his time, fearless in criticising people from his own race for blindly following some of their leaders without applying critical thought.

“This has not changed decades later – today we have individuals who choose to focus on issues like the implementation of Islamic law, but conveniently ignore the billions of ringgit that have been stolen by some Muslim leaders.

“Za’ba voiced the importance of speaking the truth even when inconvenient, and that call rings even louder today,” he said.

Anwar also believed the goal of an educational institution should be to elevate the pursuit of knowledge that brings both joy and insight to the student, and not just to obtain a certificate or a job.

“Universities should strive to not only provide information and knowledge but to being about wisdom.

“This can only be achieved when empirical knowledge is combined with virtue and ethical conduct,” he said.