SHAH ALAM: PKR president-elect, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim admitted to being pleased at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s acceptance of the ‘reformasi’ struggle championed by the party.
This, he said, meant that the reform agenda carried by PKR for 20 years has not been in vain as it is now used as a national agenda to shape Malaysia Baru (New Malaysia).
“You cannot imagine how I felt when Dr Mahathir himself spoke about reformasi. Dr Mahathir is truly committed to reforming the country’s system which is damaged and needs to be changed.
“I fought for 20 years and eventually, the country’s leader (Dr Mahathir) has emerged to say that the country has to leave behind the damage, corruption and destruction of the past.
“In the past, we had called for reform of the judicial system, the MACC, police, all the way to the scourge of corruption. In the end it has come to fruition. The difference is that ‘reformasi’ is now being spoken by Dr Mahathir,” he said.
Anwar was speaking at the Pidato Malaysia Baharu at Dewan Raja Musa Seksyen 7, here tonight.
Also present were Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali; Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin; and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.
Anwar, who is also Port Dickson member of parliament, said he agreed with Dr Mahathir becoming PM for the sake of repairing the damage done to the country.
“I smiled amid tears (at agreeing to Dr Mahathir becoming PM). Who knows how hurt I was. To me, my personal suffering is minute compared to the suffering of the people,” he said.
Anwar also reminded the party leadership to not be swept up by the euphoria in being able to form the government.
“Remember, our struggle began from the road to Parliament and then to Putrajaya.
“Being power-hungry, greedy and the pursuit of wealth will only weaken us all,” he said.