Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim this morning attended MCA’s Chinese New Year open house at Wisma MCA in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, for the first time since he last set foot at the BN component party’s headquarters some 25 years ago.
Speaking to reporters at the event, the Pakatan Harapan chairperson expressed joy to have been invited by MCA for the auspicious day and to meet old friends again.
"I would like to say thank you, especially to MCA president Wee Ka Siong for inviting me and (my wife) Azizah (Wan Azizah Wan Ismail).
"I think this is my first time setting foot in the MCA building after 25 years. I am happy because today I met many old friends, and I wished them Happy Chinese New Year," Anwar said.
Also present were Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil, and PDP president Tiong King Sing.
Two decades ago, Anwar was the deputy prime minister under the then Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led BN administration, which made him a close ally of MCA.
The relationship stopped when Mahathir unceremoniously kicked out Anwar from Umno and BN in 1998, before the latter formed a new party now known as PKR.
Since then, Anwar had been one of BN's biggest political foes, up to the recent 15th general election, after which Harapan and BN decided to work together and form a unity government.
The decades-long hatchet was buried with the new cooperation, and saw Anwar finally getting invited by MCA to its Chinese New Year do again.
New opportunity
According to the premier, despite the differences between him and MCA over the years, they had never stopped being friends.
Anwar also expressed his optimism about their future in politics together.
"Now we are back together. We used to have our differences in opinion.
"Back then, after I was sacked from Umno, I had to fight back. And when I was imprisoned, I could not attend (MCA Chinese New Year events).
"Now we have a new opportunity, and what we see is not only a warm welcome, but we also share the same direction on many issues," he added. - Mkini
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