KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim credited Malaysia’s progress, growth, and continued investor confidence to political stability, urging Malaysians to safeguard harmony and reject divisive rhetoric.
He drew comparisons with countries in turmoil, warning that instability and conflicts elsewhere have disrupted development and created hardship.
In contrast, he said, Malaysia has managed to remain on course because of peace at home, secured by the contributions of the armed forces, police, and other enforcement agencies.
However, he stressed that stability in politics was the decisive factor in sustaining the nation’s growth.
“Investors would not be confident without political stability. Alhamdulillah, thanks to strong cooperation, we have achieved much.
“In my three years as Prime Minister, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has provided steadfast support,” he said at a dinner last night, held at a hotel here yesterday (Sept 11).
He said political tussles do occur, especially in the Malaya and in Sabah near election periods, but said such disputes have not derailed the government’s direction.
Still, he warned of the dangers of rhetoric that stirs racial or religious sentiments.
“Sometimes the statements go too far, touching on race, insulting other communities. Which culture teaches us to hate one another? Where is our humanity? We must handle this wisely,” he said.
Touching on education and global competitiveness, Anwar reiterated the importance of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language but reiterated that English remains equally critical in today’s interconnected world.
“Emphasising English does not mean belittling Malay. On the contrary, mastering English is crucial to progress, and in this, I align with the Premier of Sarawak’s efforts,
“Likewise, languages like Chinese, Tamil, Iban, Melanau and Bidayuh all enrich us. Supporting these languages brings no loss to the nation.”he said
He also said federal policies and state stability must go hand in hand to deliver tangible results for the rakyat.
With effective cooperation, he said, economies will flourish, burdens on the people will be eased, and Malaysia can remain competitive in advanced industries such as artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
“If the federal government is strong, with good policies, the states are stable and economies flourish.
“This lightens the burden for the people because ultimately, what matters is what the rakyat receive. InsyaAllah, we will continue this,” he said.
