Anwar breaks into Malay heartland as sodomy verdict, polls loom
(The Malaysian Insider) – Faced with the possibility of being thrown behind bars again, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is wasting no time to embark on an aggressive campaign to woo voters from Barisan Nasional’s (BN) traditional Malay stronghold areas.
With a looming general election and sodomy trial verdict weighing on his shoulders, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) de facto leader is making the most of his freedom by going deep behind enemy lines, trying hard to sway the psyches of the country’s ethnic majority — who are traditionally supportive of Umno-BN.
In a series of trips beginning with Temerloh, Kuantan yesterday, Anwar’s message to the Malay folks in these areas was plain and simple: Vote BN out if you want reform and change in governance.
Speaking to a 500-strong audience at Shakira Cafe, Batu 1 yesterday, Anwar charged that BN’s on-going abuse of power and cronyism had resulted in a majority of Malays suffering, while only an elite minority reaped rewards.
The PKR leader claimed that Malays in rural areas failed to see this due to the successful campaign by Umno in blaming the Chinese community for monopolising the country’s riches.
“Why do you blame the Chinese? You have Malay representatives, Malay district officers, Malay Mentri Besars. So why are Malays getting poorer?
“If you look at Pahang itself, it is rich, logging has been done for 50 years. But why has the rewards not reached the people?” he was quoted by PAS organ Harakahdaily as saying.
