Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today reminded all elected representatives to consistently engage with the public, rather than only making appearances ahead of elections. Speaking at the launch of the Kota MADANI smart city project in Precinct 19 here today, Anwar emphasized that the practice of meeting people on the ground should be a continuous year-round effort, not a pre-election showmanship.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar stated, ‘I don’t want them to just show up two months before the election, and start kissing babies, walking into local warungs and stalls, making house visits. I want to put an end to that culture.’ Also present were Federal Territories Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

Anwar explained that the Malaysia MADANI approach is not a political gimmick, but a genuine focus on addressing the needs and livelihoods of the majority, especially low- and midd
le-income groups. ‘That’s why, every Friday, I make it a point to eat at a local warung or stall for 15 to 20 minutes before Friday prayers. It’s the only way to see for the (level of) cleanliness, accessibility, and conditions that directly affect 80 per cent of the country’s population,’ he explained.

The Prime Minister also reiterated that Kuala Lumpur no longer needs more iconic skyscrapers, given the presence of landmarks such as the Merdeka 118 Tower and the Petronas Twin Towers. ‘Enough is enough. If you ask me, what we need now are clean and decent eateries,’ he said.

Anwar stressed that small eateries like warungs and roadside stalls serve 80 per cent of the population, whereas upscale restaurants only cater to about 20 per cent. ‘Just look at the condition of our warungs today. We can build Twin Towers and Merdeka 118, but why are our stalls being left behind? That is unacceptable,’ he said.