THE Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim unity government has not gotten off to a good start since its inception, and there are three mistakes that the Prime Minister must fix, said Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin said the promise of good governance was betrayed when Anwar appointed Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – who is facing criminal charges in court – as the Deputy Prime Minister.
“All election promises about the principles of integrity were pushed aside. It was a political transaction based on ‘you scratch my back, I scratch your back’,” the Bersatu president said in a statement on Facebook.
Muhyiddin adds that such a move was done by Anwar simply because he wanted to repay the favour to Zahid who managed to bring BN members of Parliament to back the PKR president as prime minister.
He said Anwar should order Zahid to take leave from his duties until his court case is completed.
“It would be a shame for Malaysians if he went abroad to meet world leaders on an official assignment as Deputy Prime Minister while his case is still being heard in court. What would be the headlines in the countries he visits?” he asked.
Another mistake was Anwar making himself Finance Minister when he had promised before the general election not to allow the prime minister to hold the post to ensure good governance and accountability, said the Pagoh MP.
“It is still not too late for Anwar to fix the situation. [He should] resign as Finance Minister and focus on his duties as Prime Minister, especially when the people and the country are facing difficult times.
“After all, the 1MDB scandal arose when the prime minister at the time, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was also the finance minister. Anwar should not repeat the same mistake.”
He further noted that the third blunder was the appointment of Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah, as senior economic and finance adviser to the prime minister.
“It has never happened in the history of Malaysia that a prime minister appoints his child as an advisor. This appointment makes the ‘Reformasi’ slogan Anwar has been chanting for over 20 years sound like empty talk,” he remarked.
“Advise her to resign. She is a talented leader with great potential. Don’t let this misplaced appointment be a black spot on her political journey to a possibly brighter future.”
Muhyiddin noted that the Anwar government has yet to cross its 100-day mark but yet Anwar has already betrayed the spirit of the “Reformasi” struggle which was backed by his own supporters.
“As the leader of an opposition party, it would be easy for me to take advantage of Anwar and his government’s blunders but as an ordinary citizen, I am not willing to see the country’s reputation tarnished because of the Prime Minister’s arrogance,” he said.
“These are my views as an ordinary citizen.” – Jan 31, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama
