KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has revealed that it is possible for PKR to work with Umno, in a similar manner to how its collaboration with Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition partners Amanah and DAP.
In an interview with Mingguan Malaysia, the PKR president stressed that any cooperation to form a new government would be based on policies that place priority on the people and on saving the country from further deterioration.
He said that both PKR and Umno share the objective of wanting pro-people economic policies to be at the forefront of governance.
“We have given them space and we have seen some statements from Umno leaders that are more firm on the matter of saving the country’s economy and rejecting the illegitimate Perikatan Nasional (PN) government,” he said in the interview which was published today.
He stressed that any cooperation between the two parties is not linked to his own effort to become prime minister.
Instead, he said, the collaboration between the two would be focused on saving the country.
On February 19, the Umno Supreme Council decided to formally end the party’s alliance with Bersatu and PN as soon as the current state of emergency ends.
This has set tongues wagging about the possibility of Umno aligning itself with PKR and PH in a bid to oust PN and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in the 15th general election which is due by September 2023.
Meanwhile, Anwar also said that some members of the rich elite in Malaysia are against him assuming the prime minister’s seat.
He said that these corporate leaders are feeling uneasy at his efforts to one day lead the nation.
However, the billionaires’ apprehension against him is not a problem to him as his priority is to look after the welfare of the people, he stressed.
“I know that the rich who have billions do not quite agree (with him becoming prime minister). These billionaire leaders, they are afraid of me,” he said in the interview.
He added that he believes the people are also understanding of this situation.
The Port Dickson MP, who was deputy prime minister from 1993 to 1998, was also asked whether he believes that he has failed in his longstanding bid to take the reins of the government.
He replied that he has not been ultimately defeated, as the time for him to take on the mantle has just not come.
He stressed that there is still hope for him to take on the top post in the future.
“It’s not a failure, but it’s just not the time yet,” he said.
“I have to accept the reality that I am still the prime ministerial candidate for PH, and God willing if given the people’s support I will continue protecting their interests, especially those from the lower segments (of society).”
Asked whether his chances are further affected by his age, the 73-year-old admitted to harbouring fears that if his aspiration to become prime minister is not achieved by a certain age, the quest will be taken over by a new generation.
“Let’s not reach 95 (years) and still want to be prime minister,” he quipped, in a not-so-subtle jab at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 95, who had a second stint as prime minister from May 2018 to February 2020. – The Vibes, March 14, 2021
