BUKIT MERTAJAM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has asked for time to prove that the unity government is able to practise good governance and do away with the practice of "sakau" (kleptocracy).
The Prime Minister said he needed a few years to do this.
He said the success in eliminating corrupt practices would lead to an increase in the country's revenue and enable the government to share its wealth with the people.
"The government needs to right the corrupt practices or kleptocracy, which not only involve certain individuals but the system.
"This is not something easy as the corrupt practices or kleptocracy have spread to all levels of the government administration.
"We are not only known as a country with diverse races or impressive economic performance, but also for the 1MDB scandal," he said today.
He was met at a get-together with federal and state civil servants at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Permatang Pauh, here today.
Also present was Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Elaborating, Anwar said since he came into office, he had opened several government files and found several decisions made in the past year or two, filled with frauds and greed by the leaders.
"I don't care… either Chinese or Malay or from which party. I have asked the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to act professionally with data and facts.
"If there is a case, the Attorney-General can take prosecution action as a lesson to others," he added.
Meanwhile, Anwar said it was important for the federal government and Penang government to ensure political stability and work as a team to face the next state election.
"I asked the people to understand our need to defend the Penang government and make sure that the state government is strong so that it can help us further strengthen the unity government at the federal level," he said.