(Aug 11): Jailed former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim slammed the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) for being more interested in its own survival as he urged all political parties to set aside their differences in order to save Malaysia from economic and political crises.

In a message conveyed  through his lawyers, Anwar said that allegations against  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal had now been compounded by the machinations of the previous weeks, including the sacking of the Attorney-General and the gross interference with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

He added that the nation was in crisis, and yet the BN government seemed  incapable and unwilling to take strong, decisive and immediate action.

"The ringgit worsens to historic lows and investor confidence evaporates, this will have serious consequences for the well-being of every Malaysian.

"But Najib and his government appear to be more interested in their own political survival than in the interest of the nation," he said.

Anwar said that by not taking immediate action,  the whole Cabinet and BN was complicit and responsible for Malaysia's situation.

He pointed out that in the past, many patriotic Malaysians sacrificed a great deal to build and prosper the country.

"Is this how Najib and his associates repay them?

"By bringing the country to the brink of ruin?" Anwar said.

The PKR de facto leader urged all party leaders and elected representatives to put the interest of the nation above all, adding that with courage and resolution, the crisis could be overcome.

"We can yet overcome this crisis, and put in place urgent reforms, restore democracy to save this nation.

"But time is of the essence, action must be immediate," he said.

Anwar is serving out a five year prison sentence after being convicted of sodomising former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2008.

He began his sentence in February, after the Federal Court upheld his sodomy conviction. Anwar and the opposition maintain that the charge and conviction were part of a conspiracy to end his political career. – The Malaysian Insider