I wouldn't want to be PM if constitutional principles disputed, says Anwar
The prime minister says neither the issue of Malay rights nor the position of Islam has ever been disputed by those in DAP, MIC, MCA or PKR.
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Anwar Ibrahim yesterday said that he would not want to be prime minister if the principles in the Federal Constitution, including the rights of the Malays and the position of Islam, were disputed.
Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, added that irresponsible parties, especially among the opposition, should not raise the issue in order to intimidate the Malays.
"Who can dispute Malay leadership, the power of the Malays, Islam as the federal religion, the Malay language, the special rights of the Malay people, the sovereignty of the Malay rulers? No one.
"Our friends in DAP, MIC, MCA, even in PKR, (members) who are non-Malays, have never disputed that, and I do not want to be prime minister if the principles in the Federal Constitution are disputed," he said.
Anwar was speaking at the Madani Unity Mega ceramah programme in conjunction with the Simpang Jeram by-election in Sungai Abong, Muar last night.
It was also attended by Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching and PH's candidate for the Simpang Jeram state seat, Nazri Abdul Rahman.
Anwar said the Malays themselves were used to promises and slogans that supposedly emphasised Islam and the Malays, but that when the opposition parties were in the government, they had not made any changes.
"Was Islam better upheld, was corruption reduced, was the practice of stealing people's property reduced? Nothing, there were just many slogans," he said.
He added that the situation then was very different from that under the current administration which he said would defend the fate of the country's various races for as long as it ruled.
Anwar said he did not mind being reviled and insulted, but that his determination to make Malaysia an economic powerhouse in the region would never waver.
"Insult (me) as much as you want, (I have endured) 25 years of being insulted, I don't care.
"I want to use this power (vested in me now), I want to help the state and the people," he said.
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