Let’s talk, Anwar tells Najib

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim says that Pakatan is always ready to engage the government on matters affecting national interests.

G Vinod, FMT

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today welcomed Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s willingness to talk to any party on matters pertaining to national interest.

In a brief statement, Anwar lauded the speech made by Najib yesterday at Umno annual general assembly, where he had said Umno would always extend a welcoming hand to any political parties.

“On Sept 19, the Pakatan Rakyat leadership had already announced that we are ready to engage with Barisan Nasional, which is in line with what Najib said yesterday,” said Anwar.

Yesterday, Najib, who is also Umno president, said that his party will always welcome talks with any quarters pertaining matters of national interest, in his presidential speech.

But in the same speech, Najib mocked Anwar for making a fuss about winning the popular votes, saying that the former deputy prime minister should remember that Malaysia practised the ‘first past the post system.’

On a related matter, Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin had also said that the party was willing to hold talks with PAS, to unite the Malays and Muslims in the country.

“Umno has never rejected any initiative or effort to help unite the Malays or Muslims and the people of Malaysia because unity has always been our vision,” Muhyiddin had said, adding that the meeting with PAS could start as soon as the Umno AGM is over.