What did Anwar do 16 years in the government?
Anyway, let us analyse what Anwar did in his 16 years in the government. How good a Prime Minister he is going to be can be determined by his track record and achievements. How Anwar performed when he was 16 years in the government will indicate how he is going to perform as PM9.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
While the whole country is focused on whether Anwar Ibrahim does or does not have “the numbers” (121, 131 or 158, whichever is the correct of the three figures being bandied about) to oust Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and take over as PM9, no one seems to be discussing the whereby and wherefore of the entire issue.
Yes, that is what Malaysians actually need to discuss. Why does Anwar want to become the Prime Minister? Why does Malaysia need him as Prime Minister? Is it good or bad that Anwar becomes Malaysia’s Prime Minister?
Everything happens, and should happen, for a reason. Nothing must happen for just the heck of it — or else that makes life meaningless and we might as well just die. We are wasting the air we breathe — or bazir beras, as the Malays would say.
Okay, so why does Anwar want to become Prime Minister?
I say he wants to become Prime Minister because he is a megalomaniac, just like Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is. In fact, his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, says he is God’s Gift to Malaysia.
Even the Covid-19 coronavirus comes from God or is “God’s Gift”. Without takdir Tuhan or God’s will, the Covid-19 coronavirus would not exist. But that does not mean I welcome the Covid-19 coronavirus and think it is the greatest thing for Malaysia after oil, gas, rubber, tin and palm oil.
Anwar, on the other hand, says he wants to become Prime Minister to save Malaysia. Save Malaysia? Save Malaysia from whom? Save Malaysia from what?
Save Malaysia from the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic? How? By passing a vote of no confidence against Muhyiddin so that Parliament can be dissolved and a snap general election can be held? Did the snap Sabah state election not teach us anything?
So, what is Anwar going to save Malaysia from?
From abuse of power? Pakatan Harapan’s 22 months in power has shown there was much abuse of power under them as well.
From corruption? Pakatan Harapan’s 22 months in power has shown there was much corruption under them as well.
From cronyism? Pakatan Harapan’s 22 months in power has shown there was much cronyism under them as well.
From nepotism? Pakatan Harapan’s 22 months in power has shown there was much nepotism under them as well.
From selective prosecution? Pakatan Harapan’s 22 months in power has shown there was much selective prosecution under them as well.
From wastage of public funds? Pakatan Harapan’s 22 months in power has shown there was much wastage of public funds under them as well.
From racism? Pakatan Harapan’s 22 months in power has shown there was much racism under them as well.
So, what is Anwar going to save Malaysia from?
And who is Anwar trying to save Malaysia from?
From politicians? From political leaders? From corrupted people?
But is Anwar not trying to oust Muhyiddin and form the new government with these same so-called corrupted people, corrupted politicians and corrupted leaders?
Is Anwar telling Malaysians that we need to save and protect the chickens by appointing the foxes as the trustees and protectors of the chickens? How would appointing bank robbers as guards for the banks help Malaysia?
Anyway, let us analyse what Anwar did in his 16 years in the government. How good a Prime Minister he is going to be can be determined by his track record and achievements. How Anwar performed when he was 16 years in the government will indicate how he is going to perform as PM9.
Before Anwar joined the government in 1982, the western media called him an “Islamic firebrand”.
(Firebrand: a person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and taking radical action. Synonyms: radical, revolutionary, troublemaker, agitator, rabble-rouser, demagogue, soapbox orator, incendiary, subversive, tub-thumper.)
Yes, that was what the western media called him.
And they were right. Anwar walked around in Arab robes and condemned those who wore western clothes and suits. He said those who ape the kafir (infidels) are no better than kafir.
Anwar condemned Selangor Club, Lake Club, pubs, bars, discos, casinos, gambling dens, massage parlours, etc., and said they should be closed down and banned.
Anwar opposed all road-signs and signboards in English and said only Bahasa Malaysia should be allowed on street signs and signboards. He even led a team of Malay nationalists to paint out all signs in English with red paint.
So, the western media was right. Anwar was certainly an “Islamic firebrand”. He was more Malay than Umno and more Islamic than PAS. PAS loved him. The PAS leaders loved him. In fact, the PAS leaders even felt he should take over as the new President of PAS.
And this frightened Umno. So, in 1982, they brought him into Umno to prevent him from going to PAS. They did not love Anwar. But they hated the idea of Anwar going to PAS even more. Hence, they brought Anwar into Umno so that they could put him on a leash.
A few months later, Umno gave Anwar the Permatang Pauh parliament seat to contest. But Anwar could not contest that seat because you need to be a party member for at least five years before you can contest the general election or contest any seat.
So, they backdated Anwar’s Umno membership. Anwar’s father then issued a press statement saying that he secretly registered Anwar as an Umno member more than ten years before that, without Anwar’s knowledge.
If that were true, which is not, that means Anwar’s signature on the Umno membership application form was forged. And that would mean his Umno membership tak sah. Either way Anwar should not have contested the general election in 1982. And since he did, and he won, he should have been disqualified and a by-election should have been held.
But not only was Anwar not disqualified, he was made a deputy minister as well.
So, Anwar became a backdoor MP and the backdoor Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. In 1982, Anwar already came in through the backdoor. He lied and cheated and claimed he had been an Umno member over the last ten years since 1972.
But then, in 1974, Anwar was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). And he was not listed as an Umno member. Anwar was listed as a Persatuan Bahasa Melayu Universiti Malaya (PBMUM) member. He was also listed as a member of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM). But he was not listed as an Umno member though.
Hence the story that Anwar had been an Umno member since 1972 is a fake story. He had been an Umno member for just a few months when he contested the 1982 general election and became a deputy minister.
So how can a person who is not honest, has no integrity and honour, and who lies and cheats, be the best person to become Malaysia’s prime minister? He started his life oozing with dishonesty. Bapa munafiq yang tak amanah.
Okay, so by lying and cheating Anwar became a member of parliament and a deputy minister. What did he achieve as an MP and deputy minister?
I will give RM1,000 to the first person who can come forward and tell me what Anwar achieved as the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. Name me just one achievement and I will give you RM1,000.
Then Anwar became the Minister of Agriculture.
Okay, first of all, Anwar was detained under the ISA in 1974 for organising an illegal assembly to protest against rural poverty and hunger — and he spent almost two years in Kamunting for that “crime”.
And who are these “poor and hungry” people, those at the lowest rung of the economic ladder? Farmers and fishermen, of course.
And now Anwar was the Minister of Agriculture, the perfect ministry to help poor and hungry farmers and fishermen. And what was the first thing which Anwar did to help poor and hungry farmers and fishermen?
The first thing that Anwar did was he abolished the subsidy system for the agriculture industry. All over the world, even in rich countries like the US, they have a subsidy system for agriculture. In Malaysia, Anwar abolished the subsidy system.
And what else did Anwar do? Nothing! Zilch! Nada! Zero!
Malaysia had a 20-year self-sufficiency for rice production policy. That was why Lembaga Padi dan Beras Negara (LPN) was formed in 1971 (later changed to Bernas). Hence, by 1990 thereabouts, Malaysia should have been self-sufficient in rice production.
That was 30 years ago, or 50 years after the 20-year programme was launched. And Anwar was the Minister of Agriculture and later Minister of Finance cum Deputy Prime Minister in 1991 and 1993 respectively.
Have you even once heard Anwar talk about self-sufficiency in rice production? Again, RM1,000 to the first person who can quote the time, date and place when Anwar announced his plans for Malaysia’s self-sufficiency in rice production programme.
Until today Malaysia still needs to import rice while other countries export rice.
Then Anwar became the Minister of Education followed by the Minister of Finance. And he created a huge mess in those two ministries. Until today Malaysia’s education system is pathetic.
Why do you think Chinese parents prefer to send their kids to Chinese schools? The Chinese are voting with their feet. This is a vote of no confidence for the national schools and national education system. Heck, even Malays send their kids to Chinese schools.
And Anwar was once the Minister of Education. And what did Anwar do about Malaysia’s pathetic education system? Can anyone remember any of Anwar’s achievements as a Minister of Education? Name me just one. RM1,000 to the first person who can list down Anwar’s achievements as a Minister of Education.
No, let’s not get emotional. Let’s be pragmatic. Why should Anwar be made PM9? What has Anwar done when he was 16 years in the government to deserve the job of PM9? Based on Anwar’s track record and achievements when he was 16 years in the government, how can Malaysia benefit from Anwar taking over as the Prime Minister?
