Anwar Ibrahim refutes racial bias claims, urges Malaysian unity

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysians to reject the racial narrative being propagated by some political leaders who question government assistance for non-Malays. Since taking office in November last year, Anwar has faced challenges in restructuring the economic framework to address various issues facing the country.

Anwar highlighted the ongoing struggle against those who claim that Malays have lost power and become impoverished, accusing him of focusing only on the Chinese and Indian communities. Speaking at the Indian Community Education Development and Future Masterplan programme in Shah Alam, he emphasised the need for cooperation and unity to counter these false narratives.

He acknowledged having discussed projects for the Indian community but also mentioned initiatives for rural populations and Malays. Anwar urged Indian community leaders in Malaysia to unite despite their political differences, as this would accelerate government efforts.

Furthermore, Anwar reiterated his commitment to eradicating hardcore poverty by the end of the year, stressing that it should not be seen as an agenda specifically for the Indian community. He called for support and endorsement, stating that most policies cater to all Malays, Indians, Chinese, Iban, and Kadazan, and that the overall policy would be need-based rather than race-based.