PUTRAJAYA will not neglect Muslims and Islam while working to achieve justice for all, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said today.

He said there were those who feared that the country had become “liberal” under the Pakatan Harapan government, while there were “super-liberals” who attacked him for being pro-Malay and pro-Islam.

“The country cannot run away from Malays and Islam. There are those who think the New Malaysia will abandon the Malay and Islamic (agenda). I even get attacks from super-liberals who think I am dangerous.

“I want justice for all but (it) cannot diminish my love for the (Malay) race and my confidence in Islamic principles.

“And I believe the government will also not reject this,” said Anwar who was speaking at Universiti Malaya (UM) today at the Za’aba 2018 lecture series on Malays and Islam in the New Malaysia.

The Port Dickson MP first used the term “super-liberals” in late September before the start of the by-election campaign for the seat. He said those in this group had opposed his move to contest the seat, which many called an engineered by-election to pave the way for Anwar’s return to Parliament.

He also said this group would raise arguments whenever he talked about the Malays and Islam.

In his speech at UM today, Anwar said his firm belief in the Malays and Islam was shown in his position on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), which he said should not be ratified by Malaysia now.

“Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) has said it (ratification) won’t happen now and I know that there are concerns about it from amongst our people.

“Discussion on it (ICERD) should not be one-sided. We have to study how it will not affect Islam and Malay rights, only then can it be considered,” Anwar said.

Stressing that he opposed racial discrimination, Anwar added that all Malaysian must have the correction understanding of Islam as the religion of the federation.

“I am anti-discrimination, and I disagree with racialism. I want Malaysians, Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sabah and Sarawak to feel that they all have the rights to develop the country.

“But I also stress that Islam as the religion of the federation should be appreciated with a deeper understanding, and not be treated as just slogan.” – November 23, 2018.