DESPITE the right arm in a sling, Anwar Ibrahim did not miss a beat as he wowed the crowd gathered on a rainy evening on Jalan Kebun yesterday.

Anwar, who has just returned from Turkey after a shoulder and hip operation, said Pakatan Harapan has not diverted from its original struggles despite the recent spate of poor statements.

“A country is great not because of its the growth it records, its tallest skyscrapers or its longest bridges. A nation is only great if it cares for its weaker and poorest citizens. That is the difference between us and them (Barisan Nasional),” said Anwar, who turns 71 on August 10.

He, however, did not deny the poor quality of some of the PH ministers’ recent statements, adding that it did not change the coalition’s priorities.

“But that doesn’t change the fact that Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) and the cabinet have not diverted from the principles that this government was elected for,” said Anwar, who speaking in his first by-election campaign since his release after a royal pardon on May 16.

The PKR de facto leader was responding to BN’s campaign that the new government is sidelining Malay rights and Islam. 

In the Sg Kandis campaign, BN candidate Lokman Noor Adam also accused PH of maligning the monarchy and Bahasa Melayu.

Anwar said he cringed when he read some of the recent statements made by several ministers but he promised that PH was committed to upholding Islam as the religion of the federation and Malay as the national language.

“Everyone should master the Malay language, as it is our national language but that doesn’t mean that other languages – English, Mandarin and Tamil – cannot be lifted.

“And just because we are committed to helping the poorer Chinese and Indians, it does not mean we have sidelined Malays.”

He said PH’s 10-year rule in Selangor was a good example of its policies. 

As for the monarchy, Anwar said PH accepts the role of the constitutional monarchy and will continue to uphold the institution. 

At the end of his 17-minute speech, Anwar apologised as he could not raise his arm to shout the famous PKR “reformasi” but said: “I may not be able to raise my bionic arm yet but I’m here in hardship or illness”.

Anwar has had titanium reinforcements in the shoulder.

“For we know that we are in government today, not because of us or the leaders, but because of the sacrifices of voters and people like Shuhaimie,” he added.

The former Sg Kandis assemblyman Mat Shuhaimie Shafiei died of cancer on July 2.

Like most PH ceramah, its line-up of speakers came from all the coalition parties – PKR, Bersatu, Amanah and DAP – and attracted a mixed crowd although the majority of Jalan Kebun voters were Malays.

Anwar was among some of the big-name politicians who campaigned for PKR candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni in the Sg Kandis by-election last night.

Other speakers included Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Selangor Speaker Ng Suee LIm, Malacca Speaker Omar Jaafar, Negri Sembilan Speaker Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, Selangor exco Haniza Ramli and several assemblymen. – August 1, 2018.