Politics should be about helping people live better, says Anwar

Malaysian PM-to-be, Anwar Ibrahim, lectured his party members in a convention in Malacca not to be power-hungry because politics should not be a tussle for power but a competition of ideas to help the people live better.

Speaking to at least 500 delegates, the Justice Party or PKR president said politicians should focus on the country’s development, but if the politicians are not steered by the right attitude, it will lead to greed among members.

“Politics is a competition of ideas, there has to be justice for all… We cannot use the power to steal money, make life easy for certain groups or do what is not right… there is no tolerance for corruption and power abuse,” he said.

He also said that power given by the people should be used to develop the economy, with the priority to eradicate poverty in particular.

“It has been 10 years the country’s economy is at stagnant growth, thus, the need to support (Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) implement economic programmes. (sic) Harapan should be politically stable, there should not be any conspiracy here or there.

“If the economic growth remains stagnant, there will continue to be poverty and in the end, it’s the people who suffer. The rich get richer, but the poor become poorer,” he said.

Anwar’s party has been mired in gay-sex scandals and a perceived plot by some party members, including some ministers in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to stop him from becoming the next Prime Minister.

But Anwar won the support of a large majority of party division heads, which brought the internal tussle to an abrupt end.

Since he won the support of party leaders across the country, Anwar is consolidating his grip on the party by rallying grass root and division members behind him.

Nevertheless, his party is still rocked by uncertainty because some of the top leaders are openly supporting Dr Mahathir to remain as PM for a full term.

Azmin Ali, Minister of Economic Affairs who is embroiled in a gay-sex scandal has made it public that he wishes for Dr Mahathir to remain PM, indicating he is not in favour of Anwar taking over power. -/TISG