PM ANWAR WANTS EFFORTS TO UPLIFT THE POOR INTENSIFIED AT ALL LEVELS

PUTRAJAYA, March 1 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today stressed that efforts to uplift the poor must be intensified and mobilised comprehensively at all levels of society.

He said the spirit of Ramadan should be translated into more effective efforts to assist the underprivileged, regardless of race or religion.

“Seek new initiatives and methods, and improve our performance and efforts in uplifting the poor compared to previous months and years.

“Look at every mosque, surau, school, house of worship and hospital. Examine the lives of the people in every village and rural area from Perlis to Sabah,” he said when speaking at the Iftar with Community Leaders hosted by the Prime Minister at the Seri Perdana Complex here today.

Also present were the Prime Minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

Also in attendance were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar,  Malaysian Islamic Organisations Consultative Council (MAPIM) CEO Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby and Cinta Gaza Malaysia (CGM) CEO Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri Kamaruzaman.

Anwar said Ramadan carries messages of welfare, public good and justice that should be translated into concrete action in assisting those in need.

“Present the image that Islam is a religion that demonstrates compassion and benevolence that surpasses all other ideologies,” he said.

In addition, he urged PKR leaders at all levels to mobilise efforts to disseminate information and provide clear explanations to the public.

At the event, the Prime Minister also launched the 30-Container Malaysian Humanitarian Aid Mission to Gaza, which is expected to benefit more than 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

The nationwide initiative is led by MAPIM in collaboration with Sumud Nusantara with the full support of the Malaysian Government.

-- BERNAMA