KAJANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed claims that the Madani government is sidelining opposition-led states, particularly Kelantan, stressing that political differences would not stop it from addressing the people’s needs.
“We see problems and try to resolve them. Kelantan may be governed by a different party, but the people’s problems are our problems,” he said at the closing ceremony of the 2026 National Hawkers and Small Traders Day here today.
Also present were Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim, Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Anwar said claims that the government discriminated against opposition-led states and that Malays were receiving no assistance did not reflect the support extended, including to Islamic pondok schools in Kelantan.
He said allocations for the schools had been discontinued since 2003, leaving many neglected because they were not located in areas considered political strongholds of the government at the time.
As a result, he said, poor students had to study in severely dilapidated buildings.
Describing the situation as unfair, Anwar said his administration began restoring assistance to the schools in 2022, followed by honorarium payments for religious teachers in 2023 and repairs to badly deteriorated buildings in 2024.
He urged hawker and small trader associations to explain the available government assistance to their members, stressing the need for accurate information to counter misleading claims.
On corruption, Anwar said wrongdoing should not be excused on racial grounds, questioning why some people tolerated the theft of billions of ringgit when parents would reprimand their children for stealing even a pencil or someone else’s fruit.
“These are not Malay problems, Chinese problems or Indian problems. These are our problems — problems with our moral values. Choose Malays who are good, who have good character, not thieves,” he said.
He also reminded those entrusted with managing public funds to safeguard the money, warning that anyone who abused that trust would face arrest and prosecution.