He also said that the events he had attended in Sabah were party events.

Anwar, the PKR president, was in Sabah to announce the party’s candidates for the Nov 29 state polls.

“That is why I used them (government vehicles). Campaigns (for the state election) are not government programmes,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during Minister’s Question Time.

He was responding to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas), who had asked about the prime minister’s use of government vehicles and the Pakatan Harapan uniform while attending events in Sabah.

Fadhli also asked Anwar about the obstacles faced by his administration in tackling graft, noting that the alleged mining scandal had implicated several assemblymen who were part of the unity government.

Anwar said the assemblymen involved had been charged.

“So there is no such thing as protecting (those from government parties),” he added.

He also called for patience, saying the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had submitted its investigation papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action. He also said that there was no time limit on the case.

In June, former Tanjung Batu assemblyman Andi Suryady Bandy and former Sindumin assemblyman Dr Yusof Yacob were charged with receiving RM150,000 and RM200,000 in bribes from businessman Albert Tei in connection with mineral prospecting licence applications in Sabah. Tei was charged with two counts of giving bribes. All three claimed trial.

On a separate matter, Anwar said that stakeholders were being continuously engaged over the bills on the separation of roles for the public prosecutor and attorney-general, the ombudsman, political financing, and freedom of information.

He said the law and institutional reform ministry had said that the bills could be tabled between early and mid-2026.

Rewards for foreign informants

Anwar was also asked by Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) whether the government would reward informants outside the country who tip off Malaysian authorities on fugitives hiding in countries with no extradition treaties with Putrajaya.

Khoo cited the case of Adlan Berhan, the son-in-law of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Anwar said the government had always allowed enforcement agencies, including MACC, to adopt the best approach to obtaining information on cases under investigation.

“But in the case mentioned by Kota Melaka, it was hard as the accused escaped (overseas). But the police and MACC would have to continue (their investigation) process from time to time.”