Mukhriz: I desire to be leader, but in right way

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir has admitted in the High Court here that he harbours the desire to become a “leader”.

Mukhriz, however, denied there was a secret pact to make him the prime minister made between his father, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is PPBM chairman, and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, if the opposition coalition won the 14th General Election.

In a witness statement in his defamation suit against former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, Mukhriz said everyone in the political arena had the desire to become a leader, including the prime minister.

“I do have the desire to become a leader, but it has to be through a sincere and transparent way, not through deception, conspiracy, or evil or secret pacts, as claimed by the defendant,” he said of allegations made by Tunku Abdul Aziz.

“But that desire must be borne of a pure heart because the responsibility is huge,” said Mukhriz, who is also Ayer Hitam assemblyman.

Mukhriz said it was not a crime for any politician to have such a desire as long as it was done legitimately in the interest of the public. He contended the claim made by Tunku Abdul Aziz that he had a “secret deal” or “secret pact” with his father and Lim was slanderous.

“If I had such ambitions to become the prime minister, the intention and aspiration cannot be the basis or justification for the defendant to allege that there was a ‘secret agreement’ or ‘secret pact’ or ‘secret alliance’ or ‘secret movement’ between Dr Mahathir and Lim to make me the prime minister, and Lim as the deputy.

“I have never announced to any news organisation that my ambition was purportedly to become prime minister.”

In the suit filed on Feb 7 last year, Mukhriz claimed that Tunku Abdul Aziz had made statements about an alleged pact to make him the prime minister and Lim as the deputy prime minister.