Anwar to pro Mahathir factions - No to Mahathir as PM, Yes to Minister Mentor

Malaysiakini:

Anwar open to considering a cabinet appointment for Dr M

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has insisted that Langkawi MP Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not become the prime minister for the third time, but Anwar is willing to consider him for a senior cabinet post should Pakatan Harapan take over the government.

“They talk about a senior minister (or) minister-mentor ala Lee Kuan Yew (the late Singapore prime minister). I’m open to a discussion,” Anwar was seen saying in a video interview with Channel News Asia.

A two-minute clip of the interview was posted by Channel News Asia’s Malaysia bureau chief Melissa Goh on her Twitter account last night.

In the interview, Anwar was reportedly asked about the proposal for Mahathir to be the prime minister for six months, while Anwar serves as his deputy until Mahathir hands over power to him after that period.

To that, he replied that it would mean spending six months being unable to focus on reform but instead arguing over issues such as the date of the next transition of power and whether there would be further changes to the cabinet line-up.

The new government, Anwar said, must be totally committed to structural reform.

“To my mind, he has served twice as prime minister. It’s time that we move on.

“I emphasise that it is not a question of personality. It is a question of an opportunity to begin anew – a fresh start for this country.

“Malaysians deserve better. (There is) so much disillusionment about politics now,” he added.

In the interview, Anwar also reportedly said that Harapan must be ready for a snap general election as early as August and expressed optimism that the coalition would win the election.

“We must always – in a democratic system – trust in the wisdom of the masses,” he said.