Anwar Ibrahim Quotes

You must understand that changes have to happen, but not with our uncompromising attitude. It can happen only when we are being wise, being intelligent and by attracting support from every quarter.

I have also made it clear to those who are preparing an office for the opposition leader in Parliament House that they should not make any renovations and not be granted additional allocations for it.

Our Cabinet is one of the biggest in the world with 69 ministers and deputy ministers. I think it's important that ministers and their deputies should at least be present to listen to the opposition leader's debate. This is part of transforming Parliament, a basic code of ethics, yet it was not complied with. This morning, I feel sad. When the opposition leader is speaking, there are only five individuals from the government bloc. Where have the other 60 over ministers and deputy ministers gone?

Referring to the flooding that occurred in the (Gunung Jerai) area earlier, the ministry should conduct a thorough investigation into whether there is any forest encroachment activity there.

Now that we have established the facts, we leave it to the Agong (King) to decide what is best to save this country from the present crisis.

We are not going to compromise on the principles, the policies, and the values that we have adopted this far.

We do not defend those who take bribes and we do not condone that the authorities are being used as a political weapon. It appears to be the case with the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission). If you switch support, investigations will be postponed or thrown out, if not, the harassment continues.

I haven't failed to be prime minister, it just hasn’t happened yet. I have to accept the fact that I am still the Pakatan Harapan's chosen candidate to be prime minister and if Malaysians support me for the post, I will continue to protect the people, especially those who need it the most, God-willing. I know those with billions of Ringgit do not really agree with me. They are afraid of me. I think that the people are more understanding and are more comfortable with me as prime minister.

That particular minister (Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz) has said there is already RM3 billion (to purchase COVID-19 vaccines). There is no record in the ministry, there is no record in the budget, RM 3 billion. I don't know from where. Is it that it is being hidden so that a deficit is not seen?

Firstly, Sabah's healthcare system, which is already under-funded, under-staffed, and under resourced is now inundated and overwhelmed by the (COVID-19) epidemic. MOH (Ministry of Health) has been diverting resources to Sabah but the ministry cannot do this alone. This effort needs political support from strong leadership and the involvement of NADMA (National Disaster Management Agency) and other ministries to mobilize adequate medical teams and equipment, improve logistics and provide wider reach of aid.

The people of Malaysia deserve leadership which can navigate effectively during these turbulent times (COVID-19 pandemic). Instead we have an unstable government whose inability to handle the crisis is driving the country towards an economic recession and rising racial tension.

I want to stress a matter that we shouldn't take lightly — are these numbers (Malaysia's daily COVID-19 cases) real? If you compare to countries with a similar population size — Australia, Malaysia, Canada — our testing capacity is too low. We want to know the total infections, which is connected to the total tests done. We test 10,000 people in a cluster, we'll get 1,000 (cases). If we test 100, we may get one. So, in order to safeguard public safety, testing capacity must increase.

Malaysia fortunately has more than enough resources and wealth to address the issue of poverty. Therefore there is no excuse to not prioritize the problem at hand.

Our economy is in a dire state, hence we need to re-focus the economy. We cannot depend on those who have been abusing power and enriching themselves to champion the common cause of the people. The plight of the workers, the farmers and fishermen, they need to be protected.

We have tried (in Malaysia), for the last half-century, a pro-Bumiputra policy that benefited cronies and elites. Look at the figures. Poverty has increased! Inequality has increased! It becomes like a clientelist system. And that needs to be rejected!