PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim leading the country “part time” is the reason why the government is “chaotic” at the moment, said a Perikatan Nasional (PN) leader.
Pahang PN state chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah sarcastically said that Anwar’s full-time job is a “lecturer”.
“We have a premier who some say is half prime minister and half finance minister,” Saifuddin was reported as saying by Malaysiakini in a ceramah at Bentong last night (Oct 4).
“He even does the finance minister role ‘part-time’. What does he do full-time? Lecturing and talking. As Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Noor said, Anwar lies whenever he opens his mouth, but nowadays, he even lies with his mouth closed.”
Saifuddin, who is also Pahang Bersatu state chairman said he is worried about the remarks Anwar made in the global arena.
“I’m a former foreign minister, and I followed the Prime Minister’s speech and I get nervous. I wonder if he thinks before he speaks; as if he’s planning to change the country’s foreign policy,” he remarked.
“Recently, at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), he spoke about the Russian “invasion” of Ukraine and called for a resolution to the crisis.”
According to the Indera Mahkota MP, there are reasons why foreign ministers don’t use strong words, and they are careful with their words when it comes to international affairs.
“But in his speech, he (Anwar) condemned Russia, and we (PN) have never done that,” said Saifuddin.
This is not the first time Saifuddin has been critical of Anwar. Recall that in May this year, the former had also sarcastically questioned if the country was led by a prime minister or a celebrity.
“I don’t see him carrying himself as a prime minister, but more like a celebrity,” Saifuddin was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini on May 20.
“The way he dresses and tries to get people to follow his (dressing) ‘trend’, the way he gets his children to attend some programmes. You are the prime minister, you don’t need to act.”
Saifuddin had also previously criticised Anwar for being the first prime minister in Malaysia to have a film about his own life story and even questioned Anwar’s motive in holding Aidilfitri open house celebrations in six states, in contrast to an official ceremony in Putrajaya as done by previous prime ministers. – Oct 5, 2023
