PAKATAN ANGER OVER DR M’S APPOINTMENT
BESIDES citing his advanced age, the pact’s grassroots leaders question whether he will be true to his word.
JOHOR PAN, PERAK LEADER BOYCOTT PAKATAN HARAPAN CONVENTION OVER SEAT ALLOCATION
COMMOTION AT CONVENTION AS GROUP ALIGNED TO ANWAR TRIES TO BARGE IN
TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s appointment as Pakatan Harapan’s prime ministerial candidate has received strong rebuffs from opposition members, with his advanced age and level of trustworthiness cited as main factors behind the rejection.
While crowds at the Ideal Convention Centre Shah Alam cheered when the announcement was made by the pact’s secretarygeneral, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, during the 2018 Pakatan Harapan Convention, many disgruntled members talked to the media outside the centre to express their dissatisfaction with the decision.
Some harsh words were also reserved for Dr Mahathir by a top PKR leader.
Dr Mahathir is both pact and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman.
PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was designated deputy prime minister candidate.
When contacted after the convention, PKR women’s chief Zuraidah Kamarudin expressed her disappointment.
“I am very disappointed and sad over the announcement. However, it will not stop me from working for the election, and praying for better things to come, because anything can happen between now and the 14th General Election, with the will of Allah.”
She said it was unfortunate for PKR to be involved with Dr Mahathir and PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“It’s cruel for Keadilan (PKR) to have both Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin.”
She had, during the Pakatan Harapan Women Convention on Saturday, voiced her support for Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as the prime ministerial candidate.
Perlis PKR women’s chief Fauziah Hamzah echoed Zuraidah’s sentiments.
She said Azmin was a more qualified candidate based on his track record in administering Selangor.
“Azmin has implemented many programmes for youth and women. He can be a great prime minister. I had hoped for a young leader to be the prime ministerial candidate. This is a request from (PKR’s) women (wing).”
Azmin had left the event earlier and could not be contacted for comments.
Melaka Pakatan Harapan women’s wing chief Mahani Masban described the decision as hasty, and said there was still time for the matter to be reviewed by the pact’s top leadership.
She said instead of reinstating old leaders, a younger candidate would have been more suitable based on the current political landscape.
“Everything started during the reformasi movement. Everything that had happened to (PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) when he was deputy prime minister should have been taken into account when making any decision.
“Moreover, Anwar is still in jail.”
Pro Reformis 98 activist Shafiq Ali expressed his lack of confidence in Dr Mahathir’s leadership as prime minister, describing the latter as “someone who does not keep his promises”.
Pro Reformis 98 was a movement formed in 1998 in support of Anwar’s campaign against Dr Mahathir following events that saw the former deputy prime minister removed from the cabinet.
“I do not accept the announcement because he (Dr Mahathir) does not keep his word.
“Yes, there is a deal to make him the prime minister, but if he still wants to make this country his own property, I just do not know (what will happen).” Additional reporting by Teh Athira Yusof