PERMATANG PAUH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim challenged past leaders, who amassed wealth when they were leading the country, to surrender half of what they had gained to the Malays if they were truly sincere in helping the community.
Anwar said there were leaders in the past who had become rich for themselves and their relatives but failed to help the Malays until today.
He said the same leaders spoke only about helping and saving the rights of the Malays when they were no longer in power.
"That is why I am against any quarter who use their powers for their relatives' benefit.
"Only after they were no longer in power they started to shout about protecting and saving the Malays.
"If they are really sincere about such a cause, I want to tell these 'pembesar', the wealthy Tun and Tan Sri, who amassed billions of ringgit, to donate some of their wealth to the Malays tomorrow."
Anwar said this in his speech at the Malaysia Madani Aidilfitri open house at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) here today.
"I hope such a call is being relayed to them. Be it Tun (Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad), Tun Daim (Zainuddin)... I do not care.
"What is their wealth, RM10 billion, RM15 billion? If you really want to help, then give away the wealth that you have 'sakau' to the Malays," he said.
On another matter, Anwar said the unity government under his administration was open to criticism from all quarters provided it was back with facts to avoid misleading the people.
"If you are a 'pendakwah' (Islamic preacher), avoid spinning facts and ride on religion when you deliver your 'tazkirah' (religious sermon).
"If you want to reprimand us, please do so. I can accept all, but I will never accept slander since this is not the politics that should be practised in the country," he said.