Anwar skips Sungai Bakap campaign to focus on national economy

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Penang Bumiputera development council meeting in Seberang Jaya today. (Bernama pic)

BUTTERWORTH: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has explained he has not appeared at the Sungai Bakap by-election campaign because his focus is on solving economic problems and working to raise living standards.

Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, said he had placed election campaign duties in the hands of other friends in the unity government coalition, including Penang PKR deputy chairman Mohamad Abdul Hamid, according to Bernama.

“I am not contesting in Sungai Bakap, I didn’t even go to Sungai Bakap. I am focusing on economic problems, to develop the people’s well-being, I don’t even take a salary. I didn’t go to Sungai Bakap because I thought I had to continue working for the people,” he said.

He said he has a meeting this evening with officials and others to discuss the development of Bumiputera projects in Penang.

The prime minister made his remarks when speaking at the opening ceremony of a Tekun economic fund carnival in Seberang Jaya near here.

Anwar, who is also PKR president, asked party colleagues and those in other parties to understand why he was not involved in campaign efforts for PH candidate Joohari Ariffin.

The prime minister said he had instructed all parties in the unity coalition not to bother fighting back against “insults” from the opposition, but instead explain what the government is doing for the good of the people and the country.

The Sungai Bakap state by-election on July 6 is between Joohari of PKR and Perikatan Nasional candidate Abidin Ismail. The campaign entered its eighth day today.