Mahathir showing his desperation by meeting Anwar, M’sia minister says
(Malay Mail Online) – Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s willingness to meet political nemesis Anwar Ibrahim revealed the former prime minister’s desperation to rally support for his cause, said Mr Salleh Said Keruak.
The communications and multimedia minister wrote in a blog post that Dr Mahathir knew that he had to reach out to the man he sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998, as his new political party was not able to compete on its own.
The former prime minister appeared in court on Monday (Sept 5) to lend moral support for Anwar’s application for an interim injunction against the National Security Council (NSC) Act, the first time the two have met since their acrimonious falling out 18 years ago.
“Mahathir knows that his new party, Pribumi, cannot go far on its own, so he needs to latch on to Pakatan Harapan like a space shuttle needs a rocket.
“That is why Mahathir is trying to build a bridge with Anwar — so as to court Pakatan. Mahathir finally admits he does not really have the strength to make his party a success. He needs to tumpang (ride) on Anwar and Pakatan,” Mr Salleh wrote in his blog.
The former prime minister and the man once touted as his successor prior to being sacked greeted each other with apparent warmth on Monday, despite years of open hostility and acrimony.
But Mr Salleh reminded observers that Dr Mahathir’s friendly demeanour did not always reveal the latter’s true intentions.
He pointed out that the former prime minister had been just as cordial with Anwar in 1998 the day before he removed the latter as his deputy.
“Dr Mahathir’s kiss is a kiss of death,” he said.
The former prime minister refused to say on Monday whether the meeting with Anwar meant that they had put aside their past quarrels, telling reporters that he was only there to support the latter’s lawsuit.
Anwar was fired as deputy prime minister on September 2, 1998, and he was later imprisoned and charged with sodomy and corruption.
He previously warned the opposition against working with Dr Mahathir in the latter’s movement to ostensibly “save Malaysia”.
Dr Mahathir resigned from Umno and is currently heading the fledgling Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia in his continuing bid to depose the prime minister.
