Months on, Anwar defends linking up with BN and GPS

 

With state elections looming, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has once again defended Pakatan Harapan’s collaboration with BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Nearly eight months after the coalition government came into power, Anwar stressed that cooperation among the three coalitions was necessary for the country.

“The coalition government is not strengthened by Harapan, it is also strengthened by BN and GPS.

“We’re not working together to conspire with each other, to enact corrupt practices (sakau)... No, we want to define our policy of good governance,” he said during his speech at the Majlis Amanat Perdana Menteri event with civil servants in Negeri Sembilan today.

The Harapan chairperson said this after reiterating the government's unwavering commitment to addressing the nation's mounting debts and formidable challenges.

Following the absence of a clear majority during the 15th general election, Harapan and BN, together with GPS and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), formed a coalition government with Anwar appointed as the prime minister.

The cooperation came as a surprise due to Harapan and BN’s decades-long rivalry, with the former leading the opposition and pitting against the latter’s long list of corruption allegations prior to GE15.

Analysts are watching the state polls closely to see if supporters will withhold or transfer their support to the new allied parties, making the polls an acid test for the sustainability of the pragmatic, but at times uncomfortable, alliance.

Taking on 'anti-Islam' claims

Another area in which the Harapan-BN pact is under attack is whether the alliance could better protect the rights of Muslims, compared to its rival PN which consists of the Islamist party PAS.

Seemingly addressing this, Anwar came to the defence of DAP, blasting their regular critics, especially those who accused the party as well as the prime minister of being anti-Islam.

“We (the coalition government) have made provisions for Muslims… and DAP has always agreed with the decisions. Where does it show that they are anti-Islam? And for me, is it because I don’t wear a jubah or a turban?

“I’ve asked (these questions) repeatedly, even in Parliament. Give me an example of when I was a traitor to Islam,” he urged.

Anwar also contended that the government's allocations for Muslims surpassed those provided during the period when "Bersatu and PAS were in power". - Mkini