PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has labelled a recent news report by UK publication Financial Times (FT) as ‘fake news’.
Denials:
- Telling FT about internal “sabotage”
- Conspiracy to prevent him from becoming PM
Clarification:
- Some elements might not agree on him becoming PM
- No problem with succession plan which has been resolved and agreed to by Anwar and Mahathir
- No issue about a date for the transition of power
The FT report claimed there were rivals within PKR that could threaten Anwar’s path to becoming the country’s eighth prime minister.
In the report, it was said that Anwar told the FT in an interview that there are “pockets, people who for their own reasons would like to sabotage these arrangements,” most likely referring to the agreement within Pakatan Harapan (PH) in which Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would step down after a certain period of time and Anwar would succeed him.
FT had also reported Anwar as saying that “some people” in the ruling coalition had a “different agenda”.
At a media conference today, however, Anwar denied he had said such things, when asked about the report and whether there was a conspiracy to block him from becoming prime minister.
“I never said that. No fake news will be entertained,” Anwar said.
When asked if he was confirming that there were no quarters in PH out to “sabotage” the transition of power between him and Dr Mahathir, Anwar said: “I didn’t say that (people sabotaging him). You cannot deny that there are some elements who might not agree, it’s a democratic process, what is important is PH and I and Tun Mahathir have agreed,” Anwar said.
On the succession plan, Anwar responded: “We have resolved that. No problem.”
At the press conference, Anwar was seated next to Dr Mahathir.
Earlier reports:
Jan 4, Anwar: Some in Pakatan Trying to Block Me from Becoming PM
Jan 2, Dr M: It’s Two Years, Anwar Never Said He Wanted to be PM Earlier