'I’d been PM twice if I bow to corruption, unreasonable bailouts' – Anwar Ibrahim

SHAH ALAM - The opposition leader today stresses that he is against corruption and under no circumstances will he support corrupt activities to be the prime minister.

PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed that he could have been the prime minister before, but the position was taken away from him since he refused to support corruption and bailouts.

“They said if Anwar wants to be the prime minister, do not talk about the issue of corruption because we will attract many enemies.

“I replied that I would have become prime minister last year and at the earliest in 1998 if I was willing to compromise on corruption crimes and unreasonable bailouts.

“The note for me to become the prime minister has already been signed and sent to the Yang Dipertuan Agong, but I did not end up as the PM as I refused to support that,” he claimed.

Anwar was speaking on the second day of the PKR National Congress held at IDCC Shah Alam, Selangor, today.

He claimed that if the corrupt parties could ‘toy’ with the Yang Dipertuan Agong, then what more of the people in this country.

He further stressed that he insisted that he would not support closing the case involving corruption among the key figures of Barisan Nasional since cases like 1MDB involved the well-being of the people.

“What is clear is that tens of thousands of ringgits of money that belongs to the people was taken by these stupid leaders.

“This is why, it is not possible for me to support corruption and we will fight in the next general election.

“If you want me to succeed or become a PM by succumbing to corruption, then choose another president,” he added.

He added that PKR needed to win the 15th general election in order to save the people of this country.