No Family Ties

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ADUN SPEAKS | Anwar Ibrahim does not need nepotistic ties to remain relevant.
Mukhriz Mahathir, who could not even complete the two full terms as the former menteri besar of Kedah, is hardly in a position to make disparaging comments about PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
While ultimately Malaysians will judge as to the suitability of Anwar as the next prime minister, it is not for Mukhriz to say that Anwar is not appropriate for the post of the prime minister of the country.
Anwar would have been the prime minister a long time ago when he was deputy to Mukhriz's father, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohammed.
It was Mahathir who spoiled his chances by imprisoning him for some trumped-up charges.
Much later, Anwar was Pakatan Harapan’s natural choice of prime minister after it won national power in 2018, but unfortunately, Anwar was in prison.
Mahathir was made the interim prime minister until such time that Anwar was pardoned to return to active politics.
Mahathir should have made way for Anwar to succeed him.
But this was not what happened. In fact, Mahathir hijacked the post, refusing to give it up to Anwar.
Whose fault was this, is Anwar to be blamed for this?
Or the Harapan leadership?
Was it Anwar’s fault that the infamous “Sheraton Move” resulted in the backdoor government of Muhyiddin Yassin, the former prime minister, the architect of the arrest and detention of those who were allegedly linked to the defunct LTTE.
Why did Mahathir refuse to abide by the agreement with the Harapan coalition in vacating the prime minister’s post to Anwar?
Did Mahathir create the preconditions for the ouster of the Harapan government?
Whatever Mukhriz might say about Anwar, the fact remains that he would have been the prime minister if his father had honoured the agreement with the Harapan coalition.
It was Mahathir, only Mahathir, who betrayed the promise in handing over the post to Anwar.
Maybe Mukhriz would want to examine and digest a bit of history before joining others in saying that Anwar might not be appropriate as the prime minister.
Is he suggesting that his father should be given another chance at the post?
Anwar would have been the prime minister had Mahathir kept his word.
Mukhriz is the last person who should be talking about whether or not Anwar is a suitable person to become the prime minister.
I am not sure whether he is deluded into thinking that somebody else might stand a chance to become the prime minister for the third time.
Anwar might have lost his opportunity in the past, but he still stands a chance to become the prime minister in the future, provided Harapan gains political ascendancy in the next general elections.
It is not going to be easy, but then politics is the art of the possible.
There might be calls for the resignation of Anwar and other Harapan leaders from some quarters, something to be expected.
Without Anwar the opposition could not have arisen to the present level and strength.
Anwar might have his detractors, but he, unlike Mukhriz, does not need nepotistic ties to be relevant in Malaysian politics.
PKR has over 30 members of parliament, but Pejuang has four.
In comparison with PKR, Pejuang is a mosquito party.
In a tropical country like Malaysia, mosquito bites are common.
In this respect, Mukhriz's diatribe is another mosquito bite against Anwar. - Mkini
P RAMASAMY is Perai assemblyperson and Penang deputy chief minister II.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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