KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has mooted the setting up of a National Operations Council (Mageran) to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in a bid to resolve the present administration’s instability.
Addressing an online press conference after his audience with the king today, Dr Mahathir said he brought up the idea after seeing former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein successfully manoeuvring the country back to firmer ground following the May 13, 1969 racial riots.
“In the past, Mageran was managed well by Tun Razak to stabilise the country’s fractured politics. He managed to pull opposition parties, such as Gerakan, PPP (People’s Progressive Party) and PAS, into becoming part of the government.
“Tun Razak proposed the New Economic Policy at that time, stabilised politics, and continued ruling with a better majority. If the same principle is applied now, it can very well work.”
However, he expressed scepticism over whether the proposal will materialise, following the king’s response.
The Agong didn’t say ‘no’, but he said the proposal to set up (the council) must come from the government. But, I’m doubtful the government will propose this.”
Who would lead such a council was not discussed, said Dr Mahathir, adding that he is willing to offer his services to the government again, but doubts that it will be taken up.
The proposal to establish Mageran will not be accepted by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who has opposed it from the start, he said.
“I am not confident that Muhyiddin’s government will form Mageran, because Muhyiddin never liked the idea from the beginning and will not propose it.
“This is because he is of the opinion that Perikatan Nasional is very successful in all fields, and that everything is going well.
Investment has apparently come in, but the reality remains that the present government does not have the confidence of the people, and they are calling for a new administration.”
Earlier, Muhyiddin’s principal private secretary, Datuk Marzuki Mohamad, said the proposal is a step backwards and may impede the government’s plans, and efforts by civil servants, frontliners, industry players and the rakyat to get the country past the Covid-19 and economic crises.
Malaysia has a functioning cabinet to deal with the health emergency, which is not a security emergency, he said.
On another matter, Dr Mahathir said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the one who reached out to him via phone, and not the other way around.
“First, he rang up (Datuk Seri) Mukhriz (Mahathir), saying that he wants to talk to me. Mukhriz asked me whether I am prepared to talk to him, and I said ‘yes’, and at night, he rang me up,” said Dr Mahathir, referring to his son.
“He (Anwar) seemed to be unable to suggest anything that we could do to solve the problem we are facing now. I then suggested that he write to the Agong, and I would write in as well.
“And indeed, I wrote to the Agong to point out that the (country’s) situation is very serious and requires certain actions to be taken. But what he did, I don’t know.
“I am told that he said I rang him up, but I didn’t ring him up, he rang me up.”
Aides have played down the conversation between Dr Mahathir and Anwar amid excitement, confusion and trepidation that the two allies-turned-foes-turned-allies-turned-foes are talking about another partnership to take over Putrajaya.
Dr Mahathir’s response comes after it was reported that a May 28 phone conversation took place between the former two-time prime minister and his once deputy.
An aide to Anwar said Dr Mahathir’s secretary called him to convey the Pejuang founder’s wish to speak to the opposition leader.
“Datuk Seri then obliged and called Tun. It was a 20-minute face time between the two.
“As expected, they spoke about current affairs and concerns about the pandemic and economic situation,” he said, without elaborating.
He stressed that it was a casual conversation.
“Anwar was merely paying courtesy to an older gentleman by agreeing to call him.” – The Vibes, June 10, 2021
