Rein in loose tongues – Anwar tells government

SG KANDIS POLLS | Pakatan Harapan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged the government to exercise caution when issuing statements.

"I don't deny there have been statements (issued) that can cause unease.

"I admit Harapan is a new government and so sometimes careless and celupar (loose-tongued) to the point that even I am shocked by the statements," he said during a ceramah last night in conjunction with the Sungai Kandis by-election.

However, Anwar expressed confidence that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the rest of the cabinet "would not run" away from the coalition's true struggle.

"Let us remember, change and the power are a trust, and the situation interchangeable," he said.

Anwar also stressed that Harapan remained committed to preserving the position of Islam and to retain Bahasa Melayu as the national language, while not restricting the use of other languages such as Tamil and Mandarin.

"Harapan will uphold the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation, there is no compromise on that, and Bahasa Melayu is the national language.

"We want the national language to be commanded well by everyone, but we do not want to restrict the elevation of other languages such as Mandarin and Tamil.

"We will also defend the special rights of the Malays and bumiputera, without abandoning the other races, and will defend the royal institution, as ascribed in the constitution," he added.

The Aug 4 by-election would be a three-cornered fight between BN's Lokman Noor Adam, PKR's Zawawi Ahmad Mughni and independent candidate K Murthy.

In the May 9 general election, PKR won Sungai Kandis by a 12,480-vote majority, with its candidate Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei garnering 23,998 votes.

Umno's Kamaruzzaman Johari obtained 11,518 votes while PAS' Mohd Yusof Abdullah garnered 7,573 votes. PRM's Hanafiah Husin received 76 votes.

Mat Shuhaimi passed away from cancer on July 2. - Mkini