Permatang Pauh remains stronghold of national reform movement: Anwar

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed confidence that the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency will remain a stronghold of the national reform movement.

The PKR president described the contribution of the people of Permatang Pauh as great and that they had witnessed the ups and downs of his struggle so far.

"Kawasan mana jasa terbesar rakyat? (Which area has the greatest service from the people?"

"I have never forgotten even though I moved to Port Dickson (parliamentary constituency), Tambun (parliament constituency) but the foundation of strength remains Permatang Pauh. Yes, I can't forget because there have been ups and downs here for too long.

"We understand that sometimes there is a rift between the older people and the younger people," he said speaking at an afternoon tea with the people in Lembah Makanan, Bandar Perda here.

Anwar, who was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, also expressed his happiness at being able to spend time with the Permatang Pauh community.

Hundreds of people greeted the prime minister upon his arrival at the site, which houses more than 40 hawker stalls, despite the slight drizzle that turned into heavy rain.

Anwar also gave his assurance that the government under his leadership would continue to focus on defending the people's fate without having to deal with the 'behaviour' (kerenah) of certain parties and described it as a 'politician's problem'.

He believed that leaders needed to set a good example and that his administration would not tolerate corruption.

"I also want to thank the ministers and deputy ministers in our government who seem to agree. I said to cut their salary, I said to save on spending (they) save.

"I said that if you want to be a private secretary in the minister's office, you must hire a Diplomatic Administration Officer, you cannot hire a politician.

"Politicians have a role, civil servants also have a role. Only then can we can develop and rebuild this country," he said.