Certain Political Parties Uneasy Over Anwar’s Firm Anti-corruption Stance

BATU PAHAT, July 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has claimed that rival political factions are joining forces to topple his administration because the MADANI Government has maintained a strict, uncompromising stance against corruption and the abuse of power.

Speaking today at the PMX Meet-and-Greet programme for the Senggarang state constituency, held in conjunction with the ongoing Johor state election, Anwar stated that his administration’s refusal to tolerate the theft of public funds or the exploitation of official positions for personal gain has caused significant unease among certain quarters.

“That is why, as you can see now, all these parties are joining forces to bring me down. Why? Because they know we are strict. They know we safeguard everything,” Anwar told the gathering, which was also attended by Pakatan Harapan (PH) Communications director and Communications Minister, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

The Prime Minister emphasized that he remains unintimidated by the mounting political pressure. He reiterated that the guiding principle of his administration is to ensure that leadership is never used as a vehicle to acquire land, secure lucrative projects, obtain corporate shares, or accumulate personal wealth.

To underscore this commitment, Anwar highlighted his own record regarding his visits to the state. “I have come to Johor dozens of times. Did I take any land? No. Did I take any projects? No. Did I take any shares? No. We must instil this principle in our elected representatives. If we want a prosperous state, we must uphold integrity,” he declared.

Urging voters to give PH the opportunity to govern Johor, Anwar argued that aligning the state government with the federal administration would allow development initiatives and public assistance programmes to be implemented with maximum efficiency. He pointed out that despite Johor attracting billions of ringgit in development, fundamental issues affecting regular citizens—such as affordable housing, roads, places of worship, and welfare assistance—require far more focused attention.

“Development is progressing, with projects worth billions of ringgit, yet houses remain unaffordable for ordinary people. That is the responsibility of the state government. It has not done enough. Johor is a wealthy state. We do not want only a small group to become rich while the majority of the people remain poor,” Anwar stated.

Addressing long-standing criticisms regarding Pakatan Harapan’s partnership with DAP, the Prime Minister strongly defended the coalition’s dynamics. He challenged detractors to review the official Cabinet records of his administration over the past three and a half years, noting that DAP representatives have consistently supported initiatives aimed at uplifting the Malay community and Islam.

“I have been Prime Minister for three and a half years, and not once have DAP ministers in the Cabinet opposed any programme for the Malays or Islam. You can check the record,” he stressed.

Closing his address, Anwar expressed profound gratitude for the massive turnout in Senggarang, marveling at the dedication of supporters who stood for hours in the oppressive heat to listen to his speech.

“The spirit in Senggarang is extraordinary. Even under the scorching sun, the people were willing to wait. Rarely have I seen such enthusiasm at one of my ceramah despite the heat,” he remarked, before calling on the electorate in Senggarang, Rengit, and Penggaram to cast their ballots decisively for PH candidates in the state election.

-NMT