Anwar said that Prophet Muhammad, with strong faith, belief and morals, had defended rights and upheld justice by rejecting corruption, oppression and bribery in society.
He said the country would progress and develop if the people emulated these qualities, understood the true meaning of “hijrah” (to emigrate), and awakened from their slumber to uplift their dignity.
“Hijrah means leaving behind outdated practices and ‘syirik’ (the sin of ascribing a partner or rival to Allah in Lordship), practices of injustice, oppression and rampant slander. Only by doing this will we change, and I believe Pertubuhan Lima Generasi (PLG) Malaysia will have the same spirit, so that we will save our nation and our people.
“I happen to belong to the older generation, but when defending our rights and sovereignty, I don’t care. You can criticise and condemn me as much as you want, throw me in jail, (but) I get out and continue fighting!” he said at the launch of PLG last night.
The event was also attended by Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad, deputy youth and sports minister Adam Adli Abd Halim, state communications, multimedia and NGO committee chairman Mohd Azlan Helmi, and PLG president Abdullah Ghani Kassim.
Anwar said Malaysians could not be complacent as the country was competing to develop, and that everyone needed to be equipped with knowledge, raise their understanding of justice, and unite to make Malaysia a great country.
“We need investments, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, poverty eradication, and its conditions (are) that there needs to be leadership from the youth, PLG, and national political leaders who reject tyranny and stop the abuse of power for self-enrichment.
“I guarantee that with the power invested in me, I will ensure that PLG or silat gayung or any other machinery will be strengthened in lifting our country to become great,” he said.
Anwar also said that he wanted everyone to stop fighting and to use the spirit of hijrah as it was time for them to rise as one and to show that they are knowledgeable, conscientious and hard-working, capable of upholding justice for the country and its people.
“We need this spirit among the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Dayak, and Kadazan youth – this is our country, and we will save our country. This is the time and moment that we rise and save our country,” he said.