Anwar said the government was open to criticisms, so long as they were not slanderous.
“Ulama (religious scholars) can criticise (the government) respectfully and help us improve. God willing, we will listen,” he told reporters after an event.
“There are times we may agree (with the ulama) but implementing (decisions) may take time.”
Meanwhile, Anwar said the home ministry will clarify the recent raids on multiple Swatch outlets, which saw the brand’s rainbow-themed “Pride Collection” watches confiscated by authorities.
“I don’t know the details except that (the seizures were not due to the rainbow) colours but the issue of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) elements in the designs. Pardon me, but I have not seen the details.”
Social media users had linked the Swatch collection to British band Coldplay’s support for the LGBT community, prompting the home ministry to conduct raids and seize the watches.
Separately, Anwar said he would arrange for an appointment with Kelantan menteri besar Ahmad Yakob and natural resources, environment and climate change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad next week to discuss the state’s water woes.
Supply of clean water continues to be a problem in Kelantan, with many tube wells being dug even in the state capital of Kota Bharu to obtain water for daily use.
In a statement last night, Nik Nazmi said Kelantan’s water woes will never be resolved unless Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB) addresses its governance issues.
Recently, a copy of a purported circular claiming that each of AKSB’s board members received a RM10,000 bonus went viral. According to the circular, the directors received a RM10,000 bonus while staff received RM200 each.
AKSB senior manager Nazmi Ghazali Azmi has sidestepped queries on the circular, instead saying the sharing of confidential documents was an offence under the Official Secrets Act.
In a later statement, AKSB defended the bonus payout to board members and staff, saying it was done in accordance with the company’s financial management procedures.
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