GURUN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional to go on the offensive mode to counter attacks from opposition parties particulary Perikatan Nasional.
Anwar stressed that PH-BN should stop being defensive in facing lies and slanders from PN leaders as the unity government would not be apologetic in uplifting the country's image while looking after all races.
"We should not be defensive, I noticed that in our campaign, at times we were being defensive.
"We must not be defensive, we will offensive and we will attack them," Anwar said in his speech at the Jelajah Madani and launching the state Unity components machinery in Guar Chempedak here.
Present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also BN chairman and Umno president, Parti Amanah Negara president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and DAP organisational secretary Steven Sim.
Anwar called on PH-BN machinery to counter PN's narrative that they were the ones who were protecting the interest of the Malays and Islam.
"They claimed that they are the guardians of the Malays but Bersatu had 'sakau' Jana Wibawa projects meant to help the Bumiputera contractors and gave them to the Chinese.
"But the 'pak lebai' (Pas) just simply shouts takbir in support of Bersatu," he said.
He added that PH-BN must also counter PN's allegations that the Unity government has failed to manage the economy leading to the depreciation of Malaysian currency.
"Ringgit has weakened but the worst falls of our currency was during PN government.
"Despite the current ringgit depreciation, our economic fundamentals remain strong and even performed better than China and Singapore," he said.
Anwar said the country's strong economic fundamentals and peace has attracted investments including from Elon Musk, oil and gas giant Aramco and other investors.
Anwar also urged Umno members not to betray the party by giving their votes to PN and Bersatu by reminding them that it was Bersatu leaders who wanted to ban the party when they were in power.
He told the crowd that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had plotted to ban Umno after they were in power in 2018.
"I had strongly objected the idea. I said although I was no more an Umno member but my parents were Umno members.
"I was brought the matter to the attention of Lim Guan Eng and Mat Sabu (Mohamad Sabu) and they also did not agree to the move and it stopped there.
"Hence, I want to ask Umno members whether they want to support the party that if they returned to power, they will ban Umno?" said Anwar.
He added that PN is training their guns on Zahid because of his firm stand refusing to give way to pressures from Bersatu when they were in power.
"But now, they have singled out Zahid in their attack because they want to convince Umno members to swing their vote to PN
"We must use all the strengths we have in PH and BN in this state elections to teach the lesson to those who want to ban our party," he said.