‘Keep racial problems in check’

Anwar: Pakatan’s efforts to make reforms risk being derailed

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan’s efforts to introduce reforms can be derailed if racial and religious problems in the country go unchecked, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR president said race relations in the country appeared to be getting worse.

“The threat of racist and communal flames should not be taken lightly and brushed aside. If left unchecked, it could destroy all the moves to put the country back on track,” he said in a message to mark the first anniversary of Pakatan coming into power.

Paying tribute to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his efforts to rally Pakatan to bring about change in the country’s political landscape, Anwar said there were lots of challenges which began from awareness and sacrifice of those who wanted reforms.

“There were many tears and sweat that sparked off the people’s power on May 9. If we look back at all the achievements of the current administration today, it is clearly something that had never been recorded in the history of the nation.

“But we also cannot deny that there are still many things that should be implemented and administered so that the country would be respected by the world,” he said.

Anwar, who is the Port Dickson MP, urged the Pakatan government to ensure its reform efforts included meaningful economic measures.

He said this was to ensure the country’s wealth did not just circulate among the rich and powerful, but uplift the poor and the struggling.

Former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz urged Malaysians to judge and evaluate the Pakatan government only after its five-year term.

She said a report card now would only reflect 20% of its tenure.

“We must allow the full run of the five years before coming to any judgment and evaluation of the Pakatan government.

“God willing, PH will be able to meet the expectations of the rakyat before they come out again in four years’ time for GE15,” she said.

Rafidah, who backed Pakatan during GE14, said the new government had exposed scandal after scandal.

“Certain systems were broken. The bureaucracy was tainted by negative values that reflected the erosion of positive values,” she said.

Top brass: (From left) Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, Rural and Reigional Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Anwar at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.