JAKARTA, January 10 – Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is determined to rid the country of corruption and misuse of power even though the effort will undermine his position. Anwar insisted, Malaysia must be free from the greedy acts of small elite groups who use power for personal wealth and cronies. “I will not tolerate it at all even if it will jeopardize my position. “We are tired of characters who shout for Islam but betray their entrusted responsibilities and use power to seize rights that do not belong to them.
“I will not conduct selective investigations or prosecutions. But believe me, our instructions to all enforcement agencies are to show the strength of a new spirit to ensure that we stop this culture in the near future,” he said. He spoke at a dinner with the diaspora and Malaysian students at the embassy in Jakarta on Sunday in conjunction with his official visit to Indonesia accompanied by his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Also present were the Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and the Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and the Selangor Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari. Anwar added, it is his desire to dignify the poor regardless of race or religion in addition to strengthening the rights and privileges of the Malays and Bumiputeras.
“Although the main concern at the moment is related to economic development and the distribution of wealth to all, it is impossible to focus on that aspect as long as corruption continues to haunt the corridors of power,” he explained. Anwar is currently on an official visit to Indonesia to discuss several important agendas towards improving bilateral relations.
