Anwar: Malaysia should move away from race-based parties

He said it was unfortunately that politicians are playing the same race card.

"Some play the bumiputra card to enrich a few families and cronies. We have to put an end to this," he said at the Malaysian Student Leaders' Online Summit XIV.

The UK and Eire Council for Malaysian Students organised the event online in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In his keynote address titled "United We Stand, Divided We Fall", Anwar claimed "robbers" should not be allowed to run the country.

"You (the youths) have to decide – assess and evaluate what is best for the country," he said.

During the question and answer session, Anwar said threats to jail opposition leaders when one is in power should also end.

"Over the last two decades, we see oppression and threats against opposition leaders.

"Talk of 'when I am in government, you will go to Sungai Buloh (prison)' should stop," said Anwar, adding it was now time to heal and institutionalise reform.

Anwar said if he became prime minister, he would look into the issues of poverty, inequality in the education system and economic woes.

He also claimed that about a million people were expected to lose their jobs by the end of the year.

"Currently about 860,000 people are unemployed. Who is speaking up on their behalf?" he said.

Anwar said despite availability of competent professionals who were now out of jobs, elected representatives were given posts in government-linked companies (GLC).

He claimed even those with fake degrees were offered ministerial and GLC posts.

Anwar, who is also Opposition leader, said they were currently preparing for possible snap polls which appear imminent.