By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 2: The opposition should reflect on their past failures before blaming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and organising rallies such as ‘Turn Anwar’, says federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Dato Seri Tiong King Sing.
In a statement, he called on the public to reflect on the issues raised and questioned whether all of them were the fault of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Tiong, who is also Dudong assemblyman, said that before Anwar became prime minister and formed the Unity Government, the country was still navigating the Covid-19 pandemic, political upheavals, and unstable leadership.
He claimed that during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s second tenure as prime minister, poor governance caused foreign investors to pull out, discouraged new investments, led to the cancellation of various projects, and even saw government assets being sold off.
“For example, when Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah Nasional, sold around 16 per cent of its stake in IHH Healthcare—a major private hospital group in Asia—to Japan’s Mitsui & Co in 2018, why didn’t the public demand an explanation on where that money went?” questioned Tiong.
The Bintulu MP added that Dr Mahathir’s administration spent much of its time criticising the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government for draining public funds, blaming them for damaging the economy.
“Yet, during his own 22 months in power, the economy did not improve, but in fact, it worsened, and created many new problems,” he said.
Similarly, he claimed that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s tenure marked many financial expenditures with unclear accountability, which left the national coffers in disarray by the time the Unity Government took over.
“Protests like this, held frequently, could give the international community the impression that Malaysia is politically unstable. If we are seen as a country constantly in turmoil, will it encourage the interest of foreign investors? Will tourists still want to visit?
“Only with political stability and racial harmony can Malaysia move forward, attract foreign investments, and ensure a better life for all its people. I’ve long advocated for reforms, even as a backbencher. And it is only the current Prime Minister who has shown the willingness to take on the responsibility of implementing real change.
“Therefore, I call on the people to give him their full support in building a brighter future for Malaysia,” he said.
Similarly, on July 26, Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said Anwar should be given the space to govern the country until the end of his term.
He added that it was inappropriate to pressure for the removal of someone who is still carrying out their duties within their designated term, and that the rally did not contribute to political stability.
‘Turun Anwar’, an opposition-organised rally held on July 26, targeted the prime minister over unfulfilled promises and alleged authoritarian tendencies. — DayakDaily
