Govt has not abandoned its reform agenda, says PM

 

Anwar Ibrahim said so far no one has been charged for criticising the prime minister or the government. (PMO pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the fact that his own party members were free to openly question the government’s policies and actions was a testimony that his administration has not abandoned its promised reform agenda.

This came after CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour questioned him on recent criticism levelled by fellow PKR member and Pasir Gudang MP, Hassan Abdul Karim, who claimed that Anwar had ditched his decades-long fight against corruption.

“Look at it positively, a member of my party expressing criticism against me, it’s a very democratic process.

“Now his criticism on the issue … what do you expect me to do? Do I then instruct the attorney-general to change his decision?” he replied.

The interview with Amanpour in New York was broadcast on CNN at 1am local time today.

Earlier, Anwar who arrived in New York on Thursday, delivered his maiden address as prime minister at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Weighing in on the same subject of reforms, Amanpour went on to question the arrest of Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Md Nor, who was later charged with making seditious remarks against the Sultan of Selangor.

To this, Anwar said laws must be respected, particularly when it involves the royalty.

“The system of the royalty has its paraphernalia. I think the need to protect the institution is what the people have decided since independence. That is the system we inherited.

“(It applies) when a person is deemed (to have insulted or is) abusive of the ruler and the charge is preferred by the attorney-general. I mean there is the law, (and) until we are able to amend the law, the law persists.

Anwar said although he has been abused on a daily basis, no one had been charged (with sedition).

“But if you touch on the rulers, the Sultans, we have the law.

“I can’t be criticised for the (actions of the) prosecution, that’s purely their decision, particularly when you touch on the ruler. If the issue is (about) the criticism against the prime minister and the prime minister took action, then it’s valid, your criticism is valid, otherwise, we have to deal with it,” he added.

Anwar said so far no one has been charged for criticising the prime minister or the government.

Seizing of LGBTQ-theme watches

On the government’s ban on merchandise related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community such as Swatch watches (featuring rainbow patterns), which saw a batch of them being seized by home ministry enforcement officers four months ago, Anwar said the consensus adopted by the masses must be respected.

“Well, I wouldn’t defend that action (seizing of watches). But the law for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, be they Christians or Hindus or Buddhists, there is a consensus in the country (that) they do not accept this (LGBTQ)… (or an) open public display of this.

“But do we then go and harass them? That’s a different subject, I do not approve of any of them being harassed,” he added. - FMT