SHAH ALAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called criticism over his role in forwarding former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's application for a royal pardon as "superficial".
"When I responded (in the Dewan Rakyat) like that, and oh, they criticised me. 'Trying to deceive. Trying to cover up about the addendum'.
"This, I said, happens due to a lack of knowledge. Because information is not conveyed," he said in his speech at the FLYSiswa and Madani Student Transportation carnivals at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), here, today.
This was in response to his answer to the supplementary question by opposition chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan on the issue of the purported addendum to Najib's royal pardon where he alleges he was allowed to serve out the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
Takiyuddin alleged that the government had never told the truth about the existence of the royal addendum.
"Sometimes, it's a superficial culture. Reading things halfway. The practice of reading and seeking the truth is absent," said Anwar.
"Verification is absent. (They) talk about Malays, talk about Islam (but) morality is absent. The interest in seeking the truth is not there. So, this is the problem."
Anwar added that speaking more on the addendum would be sub judice.
He urged students to embrace values of integrity and truth.
"Students must become leaders with integrity, leaders who understand the truth," he said.
He stated that while academic mastery is important, moral principles must not be neglected.
"We may master a certain discipline, but we must never forget that human value lies in truth, in justice, and in moral values. Do not forget," he reminded the audience.
On Tuesday, Anwar revealed in Parliament that he was the one who brought the application Najib's royal pardon to the Federal Territories Pardons Board, as that was his duty.
However, Anwar also said the issue of the purported addendum was not raised during the Pardons Board meeting.