SHAH ALAM, 6 Dec: Leaders of the People’s Alliance (PR) have been advised to take lessons from the experiences of Prof Dr Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie who was the 3rd and Former President of the Republic of Indonesia.
Bacharuddin Jusuf, better known as BJ Habibie, took over the reins of the republic when it was suffering political and economic crisis in 1998.
Anwar said that PR leaders should emulate Habibie who had released all political prisoners on the first day he became president.
Habibie also gave freedom of expression, association and free media – principles that were constrained during the reign of the previous president,General Muhammad Suharto.
Anwar said that Habibie had released all political prisoners because he was driven by a sense of responsibility and Islam.
“How did he, within a day, order the military and police to release all political prisoners? If he had followed protocol, he could not release the prisoners.”
“But it is because of his beliefs, thoughts and his understanding of the suffering of the people. His goal is justice for all.
“Therefore, he also freed the media. If reformation is wanted with little effort, then a pinch of experience is very important,” he said in his speech at the social event, ‘Dinner with BJ Habibie’.
Also present were Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, members of the State Executive Council, and the Selangor Members of Parliament.
Meanwhile, Abdul Khalid said that the small sized BJ Habibie has become a source of inspiration and motivation among politicians in the country.
If success is wanted, the two areas that should be brought into focus is knowledge to secure one’s career, and strong political principals to prioritise the human rights of citizens in realising democratic principles.
“Mr BJ Habibie had gone into politics not to be rich or for power but as a ‘thank you’ to his country and parents.”
“This is also something in common with the real purpose of my entering into the world of politics,” said Abdul Khalid.