Anwar expected to play key role in decision-making

DATUK SERI Anwar Ibrahim, who made a return to Parliament following his thumping victory at the Port Dickson by-election last Saturday, is expected to play a key role in the government’s decision-making process as PKR president-elect.

Although he is also to play the check-and-balance role in Parlia- ment as promised before the by-election, he is not expected to antagonise Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed in any way in order not to jeopardise Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) governance of the country.

Political commentator Tang Ah Chai said for now, Anwar should be patient and give Mahathir due respect in his leadership and decision-making, and keep to their tacit agreement.

Acts that may open old wounds will not augur well for PH.

He said Anwar’s remark during the by-election campaign that Mahathir is the best man to lead the country at present showed that the former accepted Mahathir’s leadership and was not in a hurry to force the latter to hand over the baton.

Tang told China Press in an interview published yesterday that Anwar would likely set a twoyear time frame for the transfer of power, to indirectly tell Mahathir to keep to his promise on the premiership handover.

“Compared with the time he was serving a jail term, Anwar now has many platforms to get up close with the people as well as the opportunity to express his views on government policies, and understand the rakyat’s ‘suqiu’ (appeals).

“Given his stint (as minister and deputy prime minister) in the former Barisan Nasional administration, Anwar is more experienced than most of the PH leaders in administering the country,” Tang said.