Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasised that the country’s development agenda need not lead to the destruction of the rights and welfare of the people, but instead be implemented based on the principles of justice and holistic balance. He said that sustainable economic development should not be carried out by marginalising the lower-income group, but instead provide equal benefits to all segments of society.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar stated, “Let’s not develop while destructing. We construct buildings, industries, technologies, economic zones. but the people are oppressed, neglected. This is not true development,” during the launch of the National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang 2025 Campaign at Dataran Tanjung Emas. The event was attended by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, and Information Department director-general Julina Johan.
Elaborating further, Anwar highlighted the principle of balance, or ummatan wasatan, an Islamic concept encapsulating justice from the perspective of faith and knowledge, spiritual and physical, as well as worldly and the hereafter. He reinforced the importance of a fair fiscal policy, advocating for progressive taxation that targets high-income earners and profit-heavy corporations rather than burdening the poor.
“We cannot tax the poor. If schools need to be repaired, where must the money come from? We impose taxes on the rich and companies making millions in profits,” Anwar stated. He pointed to major companies like Petronas, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, and Maybank as examples that should align their minimum wage policies with the profits they earn.
Anwar questioned the fairness of a company making RM1 million in profit yet paying its workers only RM1,500. He noted the government’s efforts to raise the minimum wage from RM1,200 to RM1,500, with plans to increase it further to RM1,700, indicating a gradual progression towards fairer wages.
The prime minister concluded by emphasizing that independence is not merely a historical symbol but also carries the responsibility to ensure the nation’s wealth is equitably distributed, benefiting not just the elite but all citizens.