‘DR M A BAD CHOICE FOR PM POST’
Interim PM move will cause instability, says expert
MALAYSIA’S foreign policies and the economy will be adversely affected if Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad serves as prime minister for only two years, should the Pakatan Harapan opposition pact win the 14th General Election.
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) political and international studies senior lecturer Md Shukri Shuib said such a projected outcome revealed that the decision to nominate Dr Mahathir as a prime ministerial candidate was ill-considered.
“This interim or temporary prime minister strategy will bring about instability in terms of foreign policies, foreign direct investment and the economy.
“Malaysians, in the end, would become victims of the decision (to appoint Dr Mahathir as prime ministerial candidate),” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
He questioned the administrative feasibility of imposing new policies in just two years, before handing the reins over to another prime minister.
The opposition pact had planned for Dr Mahathir to serve as prime minister for two years before handing over the position to jailed PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, should the latter becomes eligible to run for elections.
“This simply doesn’t make sense. This is not a puppet show.
“It is not the time to do such things as the world is recovering from an economic crisis. Malaysia will only jeopardise its economic stability if it were to happen,” Shukri said.
It was reported yesterday that 92-yearold Dr Mahathir said he would serve only two years as he “was being realistic about his age”.
Md Shukri’s colleague, UUM senior lecturer in international politics and Asean relations Dr Muhammad Fuad Othman said the main purpose of selecting Dr Mahathir as prime ministerial candidate was to instil confidence in the people.
“The opposition wants to project that if Pakatan wins the government, it will be run by someone who is experienced.
“But, will there be a smooth transition and will Dr Mahathir honour his agreement? Does Dr Mahathir have the strength to lead a new government with new challenges and situations?” asked Fuad.
Pulai Umno division chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said Dr Mahathir’s agreement to be the prime ministerial candidate proved his greed for power.
“Dr Mahathir had said he was retiring for good in 2003 and that he had done enough for the country as prime minister. Since then, he had only worked to bring down former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Razak.”
Nur Jazlan said Dr Mahathir’s successors had been working hard to reverse the adverse effects of his 22 years of rule.
“He cannot be trusted as he has no loyalty except to himself after joining the opposition.
“The opposition has no choice but to use him to attract the Malay votes.”