Anwar: Don't be angry at Tony Fernandes for supporting BN
Saturday, 6 Oct 20188:46 AM MYT
by hemananthani sivananandam and tarrence tan
Anwar meets his supporters during campaigning at Linggi. /Bernama
PORT DICKSON: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has asked voters not to hold grudges against AirAsia’s Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes over his support for the previous Barisan Nasional administration.
The Port Dickson by-election candidate was referring to an announcement by Fernandes two days ago that AirAsia will promote the coastal town and make it a tourism destination.
“The people here know Tony Fernandes. Last time he used to support (former Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib Tun Razak but it’s okay, he (Fernandes) is a businessman.
“So it’s okay. I told him ‘Tony, next time you listen to your Annai (big brother), you focus on your business…when it comes to politics, you ask me…when it comes to business, I will ask you.
“So okay-lah, don’t be too angry at him,” he quipped, drawing laughter from a crowd of over 300 people at Linggi during his ceramah on Friday (Oct 5).
Anwar said what is more pertinent is that Fernandes does something that will benefit the rakyat.
Fernandes, on his Linkedln post on Wednesday (Oct 3) had said that he was thrilled to see Port Dickson receiving the limelight, adding that AirAsia has always been advocating development of this town for many years.
Fernandes said Port Dickson’s vicinity to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport meant it has potential to be like Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach.
Meanwhile, Anwar said that he has asked Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo’s help in improving the internet speed in the constituency.
“I called Gobind and I asked him when he would be coming here, and he said tomorrow (Saturday).
“I asked him what kind of internet is this? I told him that I had already launched an online tuition portal for students here.
“After the launch, the teachers said they are happy but there are many places in Port Dickson where the internet line is bad.
“I asked him when he will be coming to look into this issue. The line is (not strong).
“Gobind told me to be patient, saying that he is coming here tomorrow.
“Thank God, he is our minister. If it was the previous Umno Ministers, will they listen to me? So we have solved that part, education is number one to me,” he said referring to the www.pdtuition.com portal that he launched on Thursday (Oct 4).
The portal is a collective initiative by parents-teachers associations from various schools here as well as some non-governmental organisations.
Earlier, in his first ceramah appearance in Port Dickson, Rafizi Ramli urged the voters here to come out in droves to ensure a high voter’s turnout in the upcoming Oct 13 polls.
Rafizi said he will be very happy to see Anwar in the Dewan Rakyat as he can learn much from the political stalwart.
“I can learn from his knowledge and he can guide me to be brave, and not be afraid to voice out (opinions).
“Most importantly, teach us not to become like Barisan, Umno and PAS,” he added.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/06/anwar-dont-be-angry-with-tony-fernandes-pd-byelection/#CUOzseFc6lVDw1hh.99
