Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has sent a direct signal to Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim that the latter many not be the next Prime Minister of Malaysia.
It is believed that the statement follows pressure by groups aligned with Anwar to dismantle Mahathir’s grip on the Malaysian Cabinet and parliament.
Previously, the groups had trained its guns on Mahathir on a near-regular basis by demanding that he lay out his exit plan.
Today however, they’re bringing pressure to bear on Azmin and Zuraida instead, two of Mahathir’s staunchest allies who just so happen to be ministers in his cabinet.
PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has sent a direct signal to Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim that the latter many not be the next Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Speaking at a forum in Doha, Qatar, Mahathir suggested that he may even seek to stay in power beyond 2020, adding that he could not guarantee who would succeed him.
“We had a vision to become a fully developed country by 2020. Unfortunately, after I stepped down, the leadership took a different course, different policies. And that caused the target not to be achieved in 2020.
“What we have settled for is we will still try, but we have moved the accomplishment date to between 2025 and 2030.
“I have promised that I would step down once I have resolved some of the major problems that have been left by the previous government. I promised that I will step down if a leadership candidate has been named by the coalition,” he said.
It is believed that the statement follows pressure by groups aligned with Anwar to dismantle Mahathir’s grip on the Malaysian Cabinet and parliament.
On Thursday, Otai Reformasi joined three other die-hard Anwar groups to demand Zuraida Kamaruddin’s and Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali’s sacking from PKR.
Previously, the groups had trained its guns on Mahathir on a near-regular basis by demanding that he lay out his exit plan.
Today however, they’re bringing pressure to bear on Azmin and Zuraida instead, two of Mahathir’s staunchest allies who just so happen to be ministers in his cabinet.
Azmin is currently embroiled in a “no holds barred, no turning back” battle with Anwar which is in an ugly phase and has split PKR for good.
Despite one or two claims to the contrary, Azmin is in control of the party both at national and state levels and commands the support of 31 to 33 PKR Members of Parliament (MPs).
At a recently concluded national congress in Melaka, the party number two was able to lead more than two thirds of PKR’s high command along with hundreds of others out of a hall where the congress was ongoing.
The walkout, in direct protest of Anwar’s address to delegates, was followed by a press conference in which Azmin ticked Anwar off for reneging on a ceasefire pact.
The next day, both Zuraida and Azmin ripped Anwar apart at a dinner event in Kuala Lumpur attended by thousands of Azmin supporters who preferred to hear him speak than attend the congress closing in Melaka.
It is said that Azmin, Zuraida and Mahathir jointly command the support of a comfortable majority in parliament, a fact known to Anwar and his men and explains Otai’s bid to have Azmin dan Zuraida sacked.
It is also said that Mahathir has made up his mind on who will succeed him as Prime Minitser and has already discussed with his closest associates his next plan of action.
Rest assured, things are going to get very, very interesting in the coming few days.
RJ RITHAUDEEN
