MP: ‘New kid on the block’ Dr M must toe the line
KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been told to learn the ways of Pakatan Harapan as the former prime minister is a “new kid on the block”.
DAP Klang member of parliament Charles Santiago said the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman should agree to the coalition’s decision to appoint jailed PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister-designate.
The furore on who should be appointed to the top office began at PKR’s 12th National Congress in Shah Alam on Sunday when Pakatan Harapan leaders held up placards saying “Anwar as the 7th PM”, save for Dr Mahathir and PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Their actions raised speculation that the duo did not agree with the opposition pact naming Anwar as their prime minister candidate, although Dr Mahathir had earlier stated Pakatan Harapan would collectively decide on the issue.
Santiago reminded Dr Mahathir that opposition parties had been championing Anwar’s issues for many years.
“Today, he (Dr Mahathir) is working with Pakatan Harapan to bring down the Barisan Nasional government. But, that doesn’t give him the criteria to be the prime minister or name a prime minister.
“You’re the new kid on the block, so you must be respectful of Pakatan Harapan’s decision, in which we have voiced, for the past few years, that Anwar is our prime minister candidate.”
He also responded to DAP maverick Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who, in a blog post, said the designation of Anwar as future prime minister was not made collectively.
“Until now, Pakatan Harapan believes that Anwar’s jail sentence is politically motivated and even Amnesty International described Anwar as a prisoner of conscience. Maybe Zaid wants Dr Mahathir to be the prime minister but that doesn’t make sense because Dr Mahathir is 92 years old (this year) and he was the prime minister for 22 years.”