LANGKAWI - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says it is now difficult for him to support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's quest to form a new federal government as the parliamentary opposition leader has rejected Mahathir’s new Pejuang party.
The 95-year-old Langkawi MP and former prime minister claimed that he has been rebuffed from the onset of Pejuang’s formation by him in August.
"What do you expect us to do? He has rejected us from the start, so how can we support him?" Mahathir said.
Mahathir and Anwar worked together in the 90s when the former was prime minister and Umno president while the latter deputised him in both the offices.
After falling out for two almost decades, they joined hands again as part of the Pakatan Harapan coalition in which Mahahir led PPBM and Anwar led PKR.
Mahathir also urged Anwar to furnish evidence of having garnered formidable support from among MPs to take over the government.
Anwar recently claimed that he has majority backing from Dewan Rakyat lawmakers to wrest Putrajaya from the Perikatan Nasional government led by prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Mahathir said that there is great uncertainty in the country now due to the political instability.
"Investors and business folk are jittery with the uncertain outlook in the country," he said after attending a dialogue session with the travel trade community at the De Baron Resort here.
He said Malaysia’s image will be hit if its government is seen to be formed based on “buying” of elected representatives and not through an election.
Mahathir said that he had mooted a national unity government to quell excessive politicking. He added that professionals could have been enlisted in such a government to administer the nation effectively.
Such a government would also be of strategic use during the present crisis affecting the country, he added.
He also said that Pejuang’s members will contest as independents in the next general election although they would be bullied by the major coalitions.
If people can support the party by making its representatives win 30 seats, Pejuang can be a kingmaker after the outcome of the election, he said. - The Vibes, September 25, 2020.
