“Tun Mahathir’s frequent U-turns also reveal the true nature of the Opposition that is prepared to sacrifice their principles simply to fulfill their personal interests”
KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was a victim of political vendetta only serves to implicate the former prime minister, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Latching on to Dr Mahathir’s remarks from an interview with British media yesterday, she reminded the former prime minister that it was he who sacked Anwar as deputy prime minister over allegations of sodomy and corruption.
“Has Tun Mahathir forgotten that Anwar was removed from the government during his (Mahathir’s) administration in 1998?” the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said in a statement.
Azalina, who is de facto law minister, further criticised Dr Mahathir for claiming political interference in Anwar’s second sodomy conviction, which she said impugned the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
She also noted that the PKR de facto leader was convicted over a personal affair rather than any political matter, and that he was able to exhaust all legal avenues up to and including the Federal Court before he was found guilty.
Dr Mahathir’s apparent backing of Anwar as Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for prime minister was also a clear departure from his previously held position, she said.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman previously stated that Anwar must never be allowed to rise to the position of prime minister, after he sacked the latter as his deputy.
“Tun Mahathir’s frequent U-turns also reveal the true nature of the Opposition that is prepared to sacrifice their principles simply to fulfill their personal interests,” she added.
In an interview published yesterday, Dr Mahathir said he would not stand in the way of Anwar becoming prime minister should Pakatan Harapan win federal power and if the PKR de facto leader is granted a royal pardon.
Dr Mahathir had hitherto refused to endorse Anwar for the position, and instead dropped hints that he would be prepared to return to the position he had held for 22 years if “friends” in the opposition pact saw fit to ask.
This led to an indirect rebuke from Anwar, who declared from prison that he was withdrawing himself as a candidate to be Pakatan Harapan’s prime minister.
Source: The Malay Mail Online
