'Are you PM or celebrity?' - Saifuddin Abdullah chides Anwar

'Are you PM or celebrity?' - Saifuddin Abdullah chides Anwar


Anwar Ibrahim should behave like a prime minister and stop “acting”, said Bersatu supreme council member Saifuddin Abdullah.

"I don't know if we are now led by a prime minister or a celebrity (because) I don't see him carrying himself as a prime minister, but more like a celebrity.

"The way he dresses and tries to get people to follow his (dressing) 'trend', the way he gets his children to attend some programmes.

“You are prime minister, you don't need to act," said Saifuddin (above, left) when met by the media after the PN Aidilfitri celebration ceremony at Indera Mahkota, Kuantan last night.

Saifuddin then sarcastically “praised” Anwar for being the first prime minister in Malaysia to have a film about his own life story.

The statement is believed to be referring to the movie “Anwar: The Untold Story” which was shown in movie theatres nationwide starting last Thursday.

The Indera Mahkota MP had served in ministerial portfolios during BN, the first Pakatan Harapan administration and the Perikatan Nasional government - during which time he represented Umno, PKR and Bersatu, respectively.

Saifuddin then questioned Anwar’s motive in holding Aidilfitri open house celebration in six states, in contrast to the official ceremony in Putrajaya as done by previous prime ministers.

"He is also clever, so half of his statements are misleading, including on the ‘Allah’ issue,” claimed Saifuddin

"So I want to say to Anwar, please don't complain, okay? Ever since he presented the budget, we parliamentarians have had a hard time following his speech," he added.

Saifuddin was referring to Anwar's statement that the decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in the use of the word ‘Allah’ is specific to Sarawak and is not bound to other states.

He quoted Ba'kelalan assemblyperson Baru Bian's statement that the judgment made by the High Court is applicable throughout the country.

However, Anwar said the government will maintain the existing policy regarding the issue of the use of the term among non-Muslims.


Stop discrediting other leaders

He also said the cabinet received approval from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to present proposals to strengthen policy enforcement regarding the word ‘Allah’ to the Council of Rulers.

Saifuddin also criticised Anwar for discrediting others, saying it was not the right value for a prime minister.

"Who has he not attacked among the Malays? The nationalist group represented by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin or the religious group represented by Abdul Hadi Awang?

"There is no need to use terms 'lebai' and 'turban' - you are the prime minister," added Saifuddin.