PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he can forgive those who had brutally beaten him up decades ago but not people who had stolen significant sum of the people's money.
"I was beaten half dead. But I can forgive that because it is personal (matter).
"But (when) it is money worth billions of ringgit being stolen, I do not have the power to forgive.
"It is the people's right and it is the duty of the authorities to return the money to the country and save the nation," he said today.
Anwar was referring to the Sept 20, 1998 'black eye' incident when he was arrested and assaulted while in prison.
He said this during an interaction session, themed Diplomacy in a Globalised World from the Lens of Malaysia Madani, between him and Malaysian heads of diplomatic missions here today.
He said the stolen money could, if recovered, be given back to the people and better their lives.
"Dilapidated schools and its toilets; as well as ageing clinics can be repaired, people who run into misfortunes can be assisted, flood victims can be aided and those who contracted the Covid-19 virus.
"This is a collective responsibility and the way is to bring about the spirit of change." he said.