“This academic was quiet during the era of corruption and theft with the previous government, but now he wants to say the country is disastrous,” Anwar said, referring to Lim Teck Ghee.

Lim had said during the “Whither Maruah 2.0” forum that the reform agenda under the PH government was an “unmitigated disaster”.

He listed an array of disappointments, including education, governance, race relations, religion, the Zakir Naik controversy, Malay Dignity Congress, and the non-ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

In addition, Lim said PH’s policies were associated with the doctrines of Malay and Islam supremacies, both of which were promoted by Umno and PAS previously.

Yesterday, PKR women’s chief Zuraida Kamaruddin had rebuked Lim for his remarks, saying he did not consider the fact that the PH government was only 17 months old.

Zuraida said Lim’s claims were invalid.

Today, speaking to reporters after officiating a seminar titled “Building a Malaysian Nation” here, Anwar said: “Why had these academics kept their mouths shut during the previous administration, when the country was being blatantly robbed, but now they want to discuss these issues?”