Claims govt not Malay, Islamic enough affect support, says Anwar

December 6, 2023

Claims govt not Malay, Islamic enough affect support, says Anwar

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has admitted that his unity government does not have the backing of a majority of Malays due to accusations that his administration was not “Malay or Islamic” enough.

He said such a perception was due to the gutter politics indulged by their rivals which gave the impression that the government was not prioritising issues concerning the community.

“There is some truth to it (that Malays were not supporting the government) but it is because they have been inundated by the claims that the government isn’t Malay and is against Islam.

“And this is a repulsive lie. Politics should be based on facts and figures,” he said in a televised interview with TV3 tonight.

Anwar also admitted that it was difficult to counter such narratives which had the potential to divide the country.

“It is a hate-filled and powerful narrative, one that extremists obsess over.”

On the eve of the six state polls in August, Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, downplayed a survey which claimed that he only had 24% of Malay support.

He said the survey by think tank Ilham Centre was “flawed” and that it probably took data from Kelantan and compared it with Selangor.

Following the outcome of the state polls, Anwar said Malay voters could not be blamed for voting for Perikatan Nasional as they were easily influenced by the narrative that DAP would come to power if PH won.