PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has defended his criticism of the government that it had been focusing too much on the “urban elites”, and denied that his comment alluded to a need to take better care of the Malays only.
Addressing the second day of the Al Sharq Youth Conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Anwar stressed on the importance of institutional change and also for the need of an economy that does not leave the poor behind.
“In the last few weeks, because of my criticism of the urban elites, some of them have said, ‘well (he) is actually a closet racist because Anwar seems to be so concerned about the welfare of the Malays’.
“Do you see how the urban elites, who profess freedom, will resort to race-baiting on a different guard?
“You reject racism, but the moment you are criticised because you do not articulate enough the problems of the poor and the marginalised, immediately (you) say the criticism is because we represent the Malays,” he lamented.
Anwar was previously reported to have called for Pakatan Harapan to shift its focus to addressing bread and butter issues faced by the rural Malays, or risk facing a backlash from the demographic.
He said that the ruling coalition had thus far been more concerned with the priorities of the urban elite.
Today, Anwar sought to clarify that his concern for the poor was regardless of race or religion.
“A poor man is a poor man. Whether he is a Malay or Chinese or Indian or Dayak.
“A man who has been condemned and oppressed is a victim, whether he is a Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or Hindu. That is what I believe Islam stands for,” he stressed.
“I make no apologies for the fact that I am a Malay.
“I am equally as concerned about the welfare of the Muslims who form the majority in this country, but I am (also) a human being who believes in justice for all who understand and appreciate the problems of the rural poor and the urban poor,” Anwar explained.
[More to follow] - Mkini
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