Global Courant 2023-05-14 19:20:00
KUALA LUMPUR – To the clamor of “former enemies, now friends,” the constituent parties of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government showed unity at their inaugural convention on Sunday, just ahead of state polls that will test their support among voters.
Datuk Seri Anwar, the keynote speaker at the one-day convention, delivered his speech at the headquarters of his former Umno party, 25 years after he was sacked as a rebel politician in 1998.
“I am overcome with emotion because after 25 years I come back here to speak,” said Mr Anwar.
“This is a great day for the Government of National Unity and for Malaysia. I want to thank you all for burying the hatchet and for working together,” he said.
Mr Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) party – founded in 1999 while he was in prison – then had little chance of survival. Today, PKR is the leading party of its six-month-old 19-party unity government.
And the roles are reversed. Umno has been defeated in the last two general elections by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance of Mr. Anwar led by PKR. Umno is now a small but crucial member of his ruling alliance.
The convention was attended by more than 10,000 delegates at the World Trade Center Kuala Lumpur, the headquarters of Malaysia’s once-invincible Umno.
In his speech, Mr Anwar pledged to boost the economy and improve the living conditions of Malaysians at a time of global inflation and shaky economic prospects. He cited successes in attracting investment from China to Malaysia following his appointment as the country’s 10th prime minister in November.
PH Secretary-General Saifuddin Nasution told reporters the government “has not looked back” since its formation six months ago.
He described it as a “strong, stable and functioning government”, noting the call of “dulu lawan, sekarang kawan” (once enemies, now friends) heard in several speeches at the convention.
The closing of ranks is important for the alliance as it faces elections in about two months in six Malaysian states, where its vaunted claims to unity are expected to be sorely tested. The 2018 PH government, then led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, collapsed after just 22 months after an acrimonious split between its leaders.
Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Umno President Zahid Hamidi urged all party leaders to support Mr Anwar ahead of the polls in Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu states.
“I am convinced that if we all stand with Anwar, this government will continue beyond the next general election,” said Zahid.
The strong public turnout at Prime Minister Hari Raya Aidilfitri’s nationwide open days showed that he enjoyed popular support, he added.
