KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should not be given so much news space because that is what he likes, but should instead be ignored as he does not like to be ignored, said former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin(Pic). Daim said people should not waste time with Anwar as he was past his use-by date and the opposition leader’s time had come and gone.
“I also think that you should not give so much news space to him. That’s what he likes. He does not like to be ignored, so ignore him I say.
“He should be left to be the entertainer that he is, dancing and singing at ceramahs. As I said his time is gone, like a ‘burung punggok merindukan bulan’ (chasing an elusive dream),” said Daim in an interview with the New Sunday Times here.
The former finance minister stressed that if the people chose the opposition which is lead by Anwar, then the country was heading down the road to disaster.
“He was tested during the Asian financial crisis and he failed. I also think that he failed not just because of his policies, but also of his motivation,” he said.
Daim said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at that time was totally offended by the crisis as he could not bear to see what he had taken time to build destroyed because of the greed of speculators and financial vultures, and he wanted to make sure the country was safe again. The former finance minister also voiced out his doubts that Anwar had the depth on economics and if he again became the finance minister or prime minister, his inclination would be to toe the American line.
“America is in crisis, Europe is in crisis. He likes to identify with Europe, America and Australia,” Daim said. He added that Anwar tried to get Australia to support him, to condemn and say elections in this country were not fair as well as saying that Arab Spring in Malaysia was not a revolution but through the ballot box.
According to Daim, Anwar was conditioning the minds of the people here and telling the world that the opposition would but he knows he cannot win.
“He has been telling the world that he will win this election but if the opposition were to lose, Anwar will say it would be because of unfair practices and mobs could then go to the streets to protest.
“He promised to form the government in September 2008. Everybody got jittery and many believed him. That is his style. He is all talk and promises. Now, he tells the world he will win,” Daim said.
Daim said if the opposition were to lose, Anwar will go on to claim that it (election) was rigged and then bring on the Arab Spring here as well as instigate the people that under Barisan Nasional, their votes were stolen and they have to go out to the streets to reclaim their votes.
“Can you imagine the scenario if the opposition does not get to Putrajaya? He will go on to claim that it was rigged and then bring on the Arab Spring here.”
Daim stressed that there had never been riggings in elections in Malaysia and this was proven when the oppposition formed five state governments after the last election.
“How did the opposition win so many seats if the government rigged elections? No election is perfect in this world,” he said. Daim stressed that there was no fallout between him and Anwar until the opposition leader started accusing him of being a chief conspirator.
“I’m no Cassius. I maybe thin but I don’t have the hungry look and definitely, I’m no Brutus. When Anwar claimed that I was the conspirator, he knows the truth that I played no part, no role whatsoever,” he said.
BERNAMA
