Anwar Taking a Path Without Mahathir

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Anwar Ibrahim said he would rather go his own way if Dr Mahathir Mohamad keeps making repeated references to the two leaders’ contentious past.

In an interview with Malaysia Gazette, the PKR president and opposition leader said it was normal for him as a human being to feel upset over the many trials in his life, including being incarcerated by Dr Mahathir during the latter’s first tenure as prime minister.

Despite the past, Anwar said he was able to set it aside two years ago to work with his former mentor-turned-nemesis, so that Pakatan Harapan could oust the Barisan Nasional regime in the general election.

“But we can’t continue to repeat the conspiracies and the backstabbing. Now, for me, it’s okay, I’ll go my own way,” Anwar said in an interview with Malaysia Gazette.

Earlier, The Malaysian Insight published an interview with Dr Mahathir in which he claimed Anwar lacked the capability to handle Malaysia’s 1997/98 financial crisis as the country’s finance minister at the time.

“I tested his capabilities when I was prime minister. I took a holiday for two months and Anwar took over the reins. We had an economic crisis at the time, and his suggestions did not help the country recover its financial standing.

“That is why I had to take over from the finance minister and come up with plans to save the country from economic woes.

“I do not know how the people saw this, but what was clear during the financial crisis in 1997 was, Anwar was not capable,” Dr Mahathir said.

Anwar said Dr Mahathir ought to remember he (Anwar) had defended the senior leader when he faced a contest for the Umno presidency in 1987 from Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

“Everybody knows in 1987 if I didn’t back him, he would have lost it all. He would have lost to Tengku Razaleigh.”

Anwar also rebutted Dr Mahathir’s view that he was a nobody with no experience when he first took up a government post, citing his credentials in world youth organisations and in Angkatan Belia Islam.

FMT

It was Dr Mahathir who brought Anwar into Umno and government after seeing his potential as a student leader.

The 73-year-old Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP, rebutted claims he was desperate to be prime minister, saying it had already been agreed to by PH parties and Dr Mahathir himself.

“It is not a question of Anwar wanting to be prime minister, no. I was nominated by the parties in PH.”

The plan for him to succeed Dr Mahathir as prime minister was decided even before PH won the 14th general election, he added.

“Then, I was nominated as prime minister and Dr Mahathir as the temporary prime minister. We won the GE14.

“So, this should be made known, it’s not as if this developed two weeks ago or last month as alleged,” he said.

The opposition, spearheaded by Harapan, has been attempting to regain power but the icy relations between Anwar and Mahathir have been a stumbling block.

However, Anwar maintained that the opposition can regain power and his announcement of having gained a majority in the Dewan Rakyat in September still stands.

“The process is still ongoing. It would not make sense for me to seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong if I was not confident with my numbers,” he said.

Anwar said he respected the Agong’s wisdom to delay the move but stressed that it would be sorted out in the near future.

“I am coming in with a programme and agenda. This country has the potential to be great – be it from an economic or social aspect.

“Corruption, the arrogance of power – we want to put an end to this. I am confident that with the support of our friends, we can do it.

“Yes, we have made mistakes in the past, but we got to where we are because we understand the people’s plight,” Anwar added.