Dr M: Naming PM is like ‘syiok sendiri’
KUALA LUMPUR: Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad remained non-committal when asked on the Pakatan Harapan’s potential prime minister candidate if the opposition wins in the upcoming 14th General Election (GE14).
“He (jailed opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) is one of the candidates but if we don’t win, no one (from the opposition) can become the prime minister. What’s important is to win.
“Anyone can be a candidate. If we don’t win and name the candidate, it’s like syiok sendiri (selfindulgent),” he said when reporters pressed him for his view on a survey conducted by PKRlinked non-governmental organisation Invoke.
The survey found that Anwar was the most popular choice for prime minister among opposition supporters.
Last Sunday Dr Mahathir was present when opposition leaders held placards which read “Anwar as the 7th PM” at the PKR National Congress.
While the leaders held up the placards, Dr Mahathir was seen taking pictures using his mobile phone and Parti
Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was clapping his hands.
Universiti Malaya political analyst Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the placard incident had given the perception that parties within Pakatan Harapan were not united.
“Dr Mahathir had to admit that Anwar is one of the candidates because the placard incident had caused a perception that the opposition is not united.
“The people’s confidence in Pakatan Harapan is shaken and if this continues, Pakatan Harapan will be at its lowest point.
“The public will be annoyed with the leaders’ behaviour because they have not even managed to govern the country yet they are already fighting with each other,” he said.
Azman said the reason why Dr Mahathir later admitted Anwar as one of the candidate was to change the public’s perception over the fiasco.
“Dr Mahathir realised this and now he is doing damage control.
“But the thing is, the damage has already been done.”
Dr Mahathir had said the opposition would collectively decide on who would become the next prime minister if it won the election.