KUALA LUMPUR (March 9): The Jana Wibawa programme had benefited certain companies owned by local Chinese as they are deemed “friendly parties in Johor”, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“There are companies which are owned by Chinese but [are] being treated like a Bumiputera-owned [companies], because [it] so happened they are friendly parties in Johor,” he told the Dewan Rakyat in his winding-up speech for the policy stage debate of revised Budget 2023.

“[The opposition] wanted to fight against it, saying those are projects for Bumiputera. It benefited the Chinese, ‘Tak Apa!’. What kind of financial regulation is this? If we want to award projects to another race, I am not against it, but [Jana Wibawa] is specifically meant for Bumiputera, so we cannot be confused about that.

“Critics say it is specially meant for Bumiputera, that is fine, I let it continue, I did not cancel it, I renegotiated them because of breach of financial regulations,” he added.

Anwar also repeated that he did not instruct the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to specifically investigate former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was arrested by the anti-graft agency earlier on Thursday.

“Jana Wibawa 1.0, that was Pagoh (Muhyiddin), Jana Wibawa 2.0, that was Bera (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob). I don’t care, it is all up to MACC if they want to look into it. I didn’t say they should investigate Jana Wibawa 1.0. If they feel there is evidence in [Jana Wibawa] 2.0 under Bera, they can investigate, I never instruct them.

“Slander and criticism happen, I want to make it clear that I am not here holding this position to suppress anybody, I know well about selective prosecution. Why suspect us? Ask MACC and the Attorney General for explanation, they [opposition] are supposed to head towards that direction,” he said.

Anwar also urged the opposition to comb through details of the charges and evidence before accusing the government of selective prosecution.

“As if corruption has to be defended [just] because they are our friends. Look into what are the charges first, check against evidence, whether there is corruption or not, whether it is slander. If it is slanderous, we don't need PAS [leaders], I will stand up and fight against it.

“But if there is corruption, abuse of power, we talk about Islam, we recite Al-Quran, Hadith to defend corruption, then where are our principles,” he said.

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