Perhaps Dr Mahathir was right to have sacked Anwar in 1998: Radzi Jidin

KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu vice-president Datuk Mohd Radzi Jidin claims Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had made the right decision to sack Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as his deputy in 1998, in the heat of corruption charges against present opposition leaders.

In his winding-up speech during the party’s annual general assembly today, Radzi chided Anwar for purportedly seeking political retribution against Bersatu and its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Radzi said the current charges go against Anwar’s Reformasi struggle, which was sparked in 1998 after the sacking.

He noted the Reformasi movement has labelled Dr Mahathir “mahafiraun” or “mahazalim”, describing the former Langkawi MP as an alleged tyrant during his tenure as prime minister.

“I would like to ask who is more zalim (cruel) than (the so-called) ‘mahazalim’, who is more ‘firaun’ (a tyrant) than ‘mahafiraun’.

“With what’s happening now, we hear people saying, ‘No wonder Dr Mahathir fired him, no wonder Dr Mahathir doesn’t want him to be PM, (it was) to stop the damage that will be done’,’’ he told over 1,000 party delegates in Menara PGRM in Cheras today.

This comes after Muhyiddin was recently slapped with a total of six corruption-related charges at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court on Friday.

Four of the charges were for the alleged abuse of power involving RM232.5 million, and two others involved the alleged receiving of RM195 million in illicit funds. He has claimed trial to all charges.

The Pagoh MP is expected to face an additional charge under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 tomorrow.

Radzi said Muhyiddin remains one of the most principled individuals he has ever met and stressed that the charges against the latter are politically motivated.

“When I attended court last Friday and heard closely the charges against Tan Sri Muhyiddin, the more I am convinced that these are nonsensical charges,’’ he said. – The Vibes, March 12, 2023