ANWAR Dares DR MAHATHIR: LIST CORRUPTED Ministers; APPEAL for SUPPORT for ALTERNATIVE to BN; 2-Week Road Shows To SELANGOR, PERAK, SABAH & PENANG

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Anwar to Dr M: Name all 'corrupt' ministers; Andrew Ong Aug 12, 06 4:22pm

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's credibility is at stake if he does not name those cabinet ministers whom he claimed to be corrupt, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Anwar Ibrahim.

"If he is consistent and sincere, he should name them," said Anwar when asked to comment on Mahathir's apparent anti-corruption drive against cabinet members.

On Wednesday, Mahathir said that he would reveal more evidence against an alleged cover up of a corruption case against a former cabinet member by the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration.

Anwar, who was once Mahathir's deputy, said his former boss should press for an independent commission to probe both past and present cabinet members to question their source of wealth if he is indeed serious about combating corruption.

ACA reports against Dr M

He added that he would be willing to be probed by such a commission, and that Mahathir should too, considering the deluge of Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) reports made against the former premier in the past.

"Reports were lodged against him (Mahathir) and other ministers, why did he omit that fact?" said Anwar, adding that his former boss should not treat corruption as a personal political agenda.

Speaking to reporters after a meet-the-people session in Kuala Selangor yesterday, Anwar was asked to comment on former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's 'advice' to him on how he (Anwar) could become prime minister.

In an exclusive interview with malaysiakini, Razaleigh claimed he had told Anwar in a meeting that the latter had two options - rejoin Umno or lead a reformed Islamist party PAS.

Anwar said the meeting, which took place last year, was a courtesy call and he had sought the advice of Razaleigh over his role in collaborating with Chinese-based DAP and PAS through Gagasan Rakyat during the late 80s.

"I am of the opinion that the Malaysian public, through my many meetings with them, have the readiness and a new mindset in order to work together in a multi-cultural environment," he said.

Give opposition a chance

Earlier, Anwar's 20 minute address to the multiracial crowd of almost 100 residents from surrounding areas, touched on the need to address the dire situation of farmers, plantation workers and fishermen in the area.

He said the government's failure to cushion oil prices had led to higher inflation, while neglecting the welfare of the working class, such as the rice farmers of Sabak Bernam and Sekinchan who were hit hard by price caps since the privatisation of the National Rice Board (LPN) in 1997.

Punctuated with Tamil and Mandarin phrases, Anwar's speech urged the crowd to give opposition parties a chance to become an alternative to the Barisan Nasional government.

"But it's not going to be easy. Even organising this event was difficult. We had to change three venues. The hotels cancelled our bookings (at the last minute)," he told his audience who crowded into a roadside tent under the sweltering heat.

Among other speakers at the event were the new PKR treasurer Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and DAP Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim.

Similar roadshows have been planned for another two weeks which will see Anwar visit Selangor, Perak, Sabah and Penang for various events.

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