IN his first public remarks since being appointed as economic adviser to Selangor, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he would do battle “to the end” against Umno-Barisan Nasional forces bidding to destabilize and wrest power from the state’s Pakatan Rakyat government.
“I have officially now entered the ring,” Anwar said in reference to his new job. “If you try (to seize power), we will go all out and fight to the end,” Anwar said in Shah Alam when opening the state-level National Justice Party convention.
On Friday, Anwar, a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, was appointed Selangor’s economic advisor, a job for which he will be paid a norminal salary of RM1 a month.
The appointment is to help the state government formulate new economic initiatives as well as improve the implementation of existing policies that directly and holistically benefit people.
Anwar used the convention to galvanise party members into ensuring the state remained in opposition control despite simmering diffirences within Pakatan ranks which, according to insiders, the coalition has been able to contain so far.
Prime Minister Najib Razak, who recently took over as Selangor Umno chief, has made public his party’s intention to retake Malaysia’s most developed state by the next general elections.
The Selangor state government has since become a punching bag in the mainstream media on several issues, ranging from the relocation of a Hindu temple to the sale of beer in 7-Eleven outlets.
Anwar admitted that despite some success, the opposition has been unable to deliver all of its promises to the people.
He attributed the problem to elements within Pakatan who still practise what he called the “Barisan Nasional politics” of corruption and racial based politics.
“This culture and way of thinking is outdated and must be rejected at all costs,” he said. “We will also not tolerate corruption within our ranks. Those caught will be sacked, make no mistake about this.”
At a press conference after his speech, Anwar said he had received positive response from investors abroad, especially in the Middle East, on his appointment as Selangor’s economic adviser.
He said a group of Arab investors had asked to meet him after the Hari Raya Aidil-Adha on November 27.
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