By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, March 22: Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah laments the deception by some federal leaders who “look decent” but are later found to be corrupted.
Without naming individuals, he expressed understanding over the huge task Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim has to tackle after assuming the country’s top post.
“But he (Anwar) has been doing quite well, our GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) has really behind him and we hope that he will always be in good health and able to lead us because it is not easy.
“We have seen so many leaders, ‘nampak bagus’ (look decent) and later on, we see they are so corrupted.
“That means we have been lied to all these years, but somehow they are still up there (in influential positions). Hopefully Anwar can turn them around. It is not easy,” said Abdul Karim at a press conference during DayakDaily’s D’Drift 2023 launch event held at DayakDaily’s office at TT3 here today.
Apart from tackling corruption, he said, Anwar has also been doing well in tackling Semananjung Malaysia politics especially when facing hardliners with extreme views.
“I know it is not easy to address West Malaysian politics especially the hardlinersthose with extreme views. Whatever you do, semua tidak betul (nothing is right),” said Abdul Karim who is also Youth, Spo rts and Entrepreneur Development Minister who stressed that Anwar has been a very fair leader.
He said Anwar’s 20 years of “ups and downs”, ranging from the peak of his political career and also to the 11 years he spent in prison, “has changed him into a very good man” and one of the top leaders of the country.
“I think he will be a fair and good leader. Unfortunately, there are many people who want to run him down. But politics works that way,” said Abdul Karim.
Meanwhile, it is also his hope that Malaysians will be sensible and more tolerant.
“We hope Malaysians will look at things sensibly, not with that kind of hardline outlook because as what I have mentioned much earlier, Malaysia is not for one race only.
“It is not meant for those with certain views, certain religions only. Malaysia is for all,” said Abdul Karim who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president. — DayakDaily
