Dr M Not Qualified To Speak On Repaying Help Anwar S Aide

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Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is unqualified to speak on repaying help, especially when it comes to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar’s press secretary Azman Abidin told Malaysiakini that Mahathir had plotted against the Pakatan Harapan chairperson as early as the first week after the coalition had formed the government in May 2018.
He revealed that Mahathir had called for a meeting with Harapan’s leaders, where each party president was allowed to name candidates that they felt were suitable for the cabinet.
“The condition was for each party president to hand over the candidate’s names and Mahathir, as the prime minister at the time, would determine the minister’s portfolio.
“But when Mahathir announced the ministers, he named four PKR leaders who were not suggested by (then) PKR president Wan Azizah (Wan Ibrahim).
"In conclusion, he betrayed Anwar and plotted against him by appointing PKR leaders who do not agree with him," Azman claimed.
PM Anwar IbrahimHe was responding to claims Mahathir made during a press conference on Monday, where the former premier took a jab at Anwar for “repaying” both his and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin’s help during the Port Dickson by-election in 2018 with investigations.
“Both Daim and I campaigned for him. But now he wants to investigate me for wrongdoings,” the 98-year-old said.
Mahathir had partnered with Anwar to defeat BN at the 14th general election when the former became the prime minister for the second time.
PKR’s internal strife
Azman did not reveal the names of the four PKR leaders Mahathir appointed.
In 2018, PKR saw seven of its members become ministers, including Wan Azizah, who became the deputy prime minister as well as the women, family and community development minister.
The others were Azmin Ali as economic minister, Zuraidah Kamaruddin (housing and local government minister), Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (domestic trade and consumer affairs minister), Saifuddin Abdullah (foreign minister), Baru Bian (public works minister) dan Dr Xavier Jayakumar (water, land and natural resources minister).
From these, Azmin, Saifuddin Abdullah, Zuraida and Baru left PKR in February 2020 through the Sheraton Move, causing the fall of the Harapan government after 22 months.
Ex-PKR members Zuraida Kamaruddin and Azmin AliBaru, however, did not go on to join the Perikatan Nasional government under Muhyiddin Yassin but instead joined Parti Sarawak Bersatu as part of the opposition.
At the same time, Xavier announced his decision to leave PKR and support PN in May 2021 after being embroiled in allegations of corruption.
‘Mahathir refused to hand over power’
Besides that, Azman said that Mahathir had also betrayed other friends in Harapan, other than Anwar and PKR, after the nonagenarian resigned as prime minister without holding discussions with the Harapan leadership.
“The goal was for him to become prime minister again with the support of all parties and to not have to hand over the administration to Anwar as he promised when he was with Harapan before GE14.”
Anwar’s press sec Azman AbidinHe alluded to Mahathir masterminding the Sheraton Move to avoid handing administrative power over to Anwar, saying that the latter was eventually betrayed by his own followers.
"Running under the PKR ticket, using Harapan’s machinery and support to become PM. Then, trying to overthrow Harapan. This is Mahathir's behaviour.
"So, I believe Mahathir is the least qualified person to talk about reciprocation,” Azman added.
Yesterday, police questioned Mahathir in connection with his recent racial remarks that Indian Malaysians are “not completely loyal to the country”.
Mahathir has since doubled down on his comments, saying he doesn’t believe he “has done anything wrong”. - Mkini

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