Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 10:16 am
According to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is not fit as the nominee for prime minister because he is allegedly not “famous” among the Malays. The former prime minister has allegedly stated that the president of the PKR wants someone like himself to attract Malaysian popularity and win the race.
Malays’ support has been seen to be very necessary for every party to win the election, so since it’s not really common being the leader of a multi-racial group it wants someone who’s Malaysian leader to help it win the election.
Dr Mahathir found out that that was the explanation why he originally decided to become the prime minister for a third time for a six-month span should Pakatan Harapan Plus (PH Plus) take over the government from Perikatan Nasional (PN).
The Langkawi MP also found out that, on three prior occasions, Anwar did not get the Malays vote and gain the race.
Pakatan Harapan ‘s parties only came into force in 2018 when Dr Mahathir and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia entered the fray, then losing control when Dr Mahathir quit in early March as prime minister.
In an interview with Asia Times last week, Dr. Mahathir said that his reluctance to back Anwar was not owing to some mistrust of the latter, but a matter of pragmatism, arguing that his former deputy was unable to receive adequate help from the opposition parties to question Perikatan Nasional in a credible manner.
Dr. Mahathir had stated in March that after his tenure in Umno, Anwar has not had the patronage of the Malay group, because they regarded him as a moderate, adding that the Malays believed liberalism would contribute to an loss of their freedoms and privileges.
The opposition is yet to decide on its preference of nominee for prime minister if it returns to office, with PKR initially opposing Dr Mahathir’s bid to become the prime minister and Anwar, his deputy for a six-month period. It prompted Dr Mahathir to accept an initiative that appointed Sabah’s chief minister Shafie Apdal as the nominee for prime minister of the alliance with Anwar, and his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as deputy
