PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it was not easy for him to handle the issue on the alleged rice monopoly by tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary and reducing the number of special lottery draws from 22 to eight times a year.

He said he had to deal with some of the country’s richest consortia in such issues.

However, he stressed that the decisions were made in accordance with his principles and that such matters must not be politicized.

“When I decided to cut back the number of special lottery draws, some accused me of being anti-Chinese because these companies are controlled by the Chinese.”

Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has slammed Anwar for reprimanding Syed Mokhtar because the latter was a Malay and was easy to bully.

Anwar said he had no intention of ruining Syed Mokhtar’s business empire, and had indeed managed to get the tycoon to agree to help the rice farmers.