ANWAR’S REFUSAL TO BE PM CANDIDATE IS ‘DAMAGE CONTROL’
He knows that issue will break Pakatan, says MCA bureau chairman
JAILED opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent refusal to be Pakatan Harapan’s prime ministerial candidate is nothing short of a “symbolic” measure to assert damage control.
MCA Religious Harmony Bureau chairman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker claimed that Anwar had realised that talks on choosing a prime ministerial candidate for the opposition were causing friction in the pact.
“It’s just a political posture. Anwar knows that this issue was going to break and damage Pakatan Harapan, which was why he came up with that statement. Anwar was doing damage control.”
He said the fact remained that Pakatan Harapan could not reach a consensus on the issue.
Ti said like any other political decisions made by the opposition, there was always a tendency for the leaders to make an about-turn.
This, he said, would show people that Anwar was never serious about giving up the top post.
“They (opposition leaders) made many U-turns before.
“It’s possible for Anwar to do the same if Pakatan Harapan secured Putrajaya,” he added.
Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang, meanwhile, urged Pakatan Harapan to be transparent and announce its choice of prime minister-designate.
He said voters had the right to know the pact’s candidate if it was to win the general election.
“This is one of the most important and fundamental information that a voter needs to know before making his choice. There is no reason for Pakatan Harapan to continue hiding the identity of its designated prime minister, unless it doesn’t have a good candidate in hand.”
Former premier and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was previously labelled as the “U-turn champion” by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for changing his stance on the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) scheme.
Last month, during the PKR National Congress, Pakatan Harapan leaders held up placards bearing the words “Anwar as 7th PM”. Dr Mahathir and PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, however, refrained from doing so.
This sparked speculation that the duo did not agree with Pakatan Harapan’s choice, to the extent where opposition leaders criticised Dr Mahathir and told the longest-serving prime minister to “back off ” as he was “the new kid” in the opposition.
Parti Amanah Negara communications director Khalid Samad, when contacted, said that Anwar’s statement was timely, adding that the opposition pact should focus on people-centric issues instead of finding a prime minister-designate.
“The question on who’s going to be the prime minister is speculative and we don’t have the power to appoint one.
“So, Anwar’s statement would put speculations to rest.
“There is no infighting in the opposition, but we can see the signs. Anwar’s action was very well timed to avoid the signs from developing into infighting,” he said.