DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim says nothing will stop him in his quest to ensure good governance and ridding the country of the scourge of corruption.
Saying the unity government that he leads will remain intact until the next general election, he added that his Cabinet was free of questionable dealings and this was one of the biggest achievements of his administration.
“I again stress the effectiveness of the leadership and Cabinet, with there not even being one questionable report against the unity government.
“This is history. If someone asked me what is so great about the unity government, my answer is that the team of leaders is resolute in stopping the damage in the values and losses to the nation that resulted in the country being despised by the world,” the Prime Minister said in his address at the Unity Government National Convention at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) yesterday.
Anwar said some had predicted that the unity government would only last three months, with others saying it would collapse before Hari Raya.
“But this convention is a clear signal to the people and the world that the government is not only stable but will last until the next general election,” he declared.
Anwar thanked Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for agreeing to work together to form the unity government.
He said he could not have formed a stable government to improve the national economy nor garner the support of MPs if it had not been for the toil and sacrifices of Ahmad Zahid behind the scenes.
“I’ve aspired for years to rid Malaysia of systemic corruption and move us away from the old politics, but this aspiration would not have come to fruition if not for the efforts of my deputy Ahmad Zahid.
“Today is a great day in our unity government’s history and I want to thank everyone for putting aside their differences, anger and wrath towards each other for the collective good,” he added.
The Prime Minister also spoke of the consistency, commitment and determination of those involved in the formation of the unity government.
“This is a collective effort. The issue is not about Anwar but the commitment and ability to have a vision and determination to defend the interest of the rakyat,” he added.
He said the setting up of the unity government was not merely to fulfil the wishes of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong but also to stabilise the country.
Anwar said those who disputed the strength of the government could “make a challenge” in Parliament.
“If there are those still having delusions, I throw the challenge again for them to bring it to Parliament in the coming sitting and contest it,” he said.
At the convention, the 19 political parties that formed the unity government issued a five-point pledge to improve the level of transparency in public administration by putting an end to leakages and ensuring that the benefits of government development projects are felt by the masses.
It was also to ensure that the rakyat has access to education and health services and to improve their livelihood by increasing jobs in various sectors.
They also pledged to spur economic growth and restore investor confidence, which would help make Malaysia more prosperous and increase its competitiveness on a global scale.
Anwar’s return to Dewan Merdeka to make his address as Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister was a momentous occasion in itself.
The last time he spoke here was during the Umno general assembly in 1997 – a full quarter of a century ago – when he was the party’s deputy president.
