Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has laid out plans to ensure that his former jailer-turned-saviour, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will remain relevant post retirement as Prime Minister.
Anwar has repeatedly been stressing that things were smooth sailing between him and Mahathir, raising suspicion that circumstances may just be the exact opposite, as evident from how things played out in 1998.
Anwar recently claimed that there was a signed agreement to the effect that he would be made Prime Minister, though he never made it clear if the agreement was between him and Mahathir.
SUBANG JAYA: Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has laid out plans to ensure that his former jailer-turned-saviour, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will remain relevant post retirement as Prime Minister.
Speaking to reporters at the National Youth Council 2019 in Bangi, the man dubbed “Malaysia’s longest Prime Minister in waiting” claimed Mahathir would still play a vital role as a statesman, though he didn’t make it clear in what capacity or whether Mahathir would be offered an advisory role.
“I have no problem at all as Dr Mahathir has a role to play now and must be given space.
“Even if I take over the leadership, Dr Mahathir will still play the role of a statesman as he has contributed much to the country,” said the prime minister-in-waiting, adding that communication between the two of them has been happening “in a good manner”.
Mahathir made a spectacular return as Prime Minister following Barisan Nasional’s defeat at the hands of the DAP-led Pakatan Harapan during the 14thgeneral election.
The comeback was made possible following the DAP’s agreement to anoint Mahathir the coalition’s “top dog” and for him to be named Pakatan’s choice candidate for the role of Prime Minister.
The agreement was on the promise that Anwar would be made Prime Minister within two years of Pakatan winning the general election.
Mahathir has since gone flip flop on the matter, sometimes insisting that it was a mere suggestion, while at other times, affirming that the plan was on track and that the transition would take place as scheduled.
Most recently, he ‘extended’ his tenure by another year-plus when he announced that he would step down “in two or three years,” completely ignoring the initial “two-year” pledge he made to Lim Kit Siang and Anwar.
The senior Lim recently expressed his disappointment to Mahathir’s backtracking – albeit subtly – by threatening to “retire from politics” should the elder PPBM statesman renege on his promise to hand over the reins of government to Anwar.
Anwar, on the other hand, has repeatedly been stressing in recent times that things were smooth sailing between him and Mahathir, raising suspicion that circumstances may just be the exact opposite.
Back in 1998, the duo was complimenting each other on a regular basis and played down reports of a power struggle between them.
Then, in a bolt from the blue, Mahathir stripped Anwar off his Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance posts and instructed the police to act on Anwar’s supporters on grounds that they were planning to trigger unrest modelled against Indonesia’s reformasi movement.
All this happened barely a week after Mahathir praised Anwar for his loyalty and assured reporters that a plan of succession had been put in place to turn Anwar into Prime Minister.
If indeed Anwar has “faith in Mahathir” to hand over the country’s premiership to him, it is a wonder that he keeps harping on it, as doing so only implies that he completely lacks faith in Mahathir to do what was promised.
Anwar recently claimed that there was a signed agreement to the effect that he would be made Prime Minister, though he never made it clear if the agreement was between him and Mahathir or if it involved him at all.
The PKR president completely ignored a request by TTF for the agreement to be made public and continues to make wild assertions and claims despite Mahathir’s continued “back and forth” on the question of succession.
THE THIRD FORCE
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