KUALA LUMPUR – Pejuang chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has become a “No Anwar” proponent even though he admitted that a “big tent” cooperation among the opposition parties will see to the fall of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming general election.
However, the former prime minister said Pejuang will reject the “big tent” approach if it is led by former allies PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Dr Mahathir told Utusan Malaysia that the reasons behind the rejection are the leaders’ “tidak lurus” (dishonest) attitudes and selfish agendas, which do not prioritise the people.
“Yes, if possible, we have a big tent, because our country faces many problems, especially the Malays. The Malays have many problems.
“But we have to find honest people. Cannot, if people enter politics for money and whatnot. Sorry,” he was quoted as saying in an interview at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya yesterday.
Asked why Muhyiddin and Anwar were considered dishonest, he said: “Tidak lurus (dishonest). Anwar has no support. How many times has he announced that he will become prime minister? But it didn’t happen. He has no support.”
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said his team is monitoring a few parties to evaluate if they are in line with Pejuang but no discussions have been made towards establishing a “big tent” with anyone.
“No politicians have contacted me, maybe through Bersatu people. One of Pejuang’s stance is to fight corruption. So if anyone in other parties is seen to be involved in graft, we cannot work with them.”
He added that he would still be prime minister in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government if not for Anwar, whose collapse led to Umno and BN dominating the federal administration.
“About my resignation (as PM), the Agong wanted every 220 MPs to put in writing who they supported. I thought PH would put my name, since I’m from PH.
“But Anwar said he had a lot of support. PH gave Anwar 92 votes, I got 62, not from PH, but from other parties. I don’t know who.
“If I get 62 and 92 from PH, I would have 154 (votes), and I will be prime minister. But he made me lose, and he lost as well.” – The Vibes, June 3, 2022
