Zaid still hopes for Anwar to be PM in 2020

Former minister, in calling on people to have faith in the opposition and support it in GE14, talks of an interim prime minister until Anwar Ibrahim can helm the nation.

(FMT) – Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim still harbours hope Anwar Ibrahim will be appointed the prime minister in 2020 despite the latter failing in his final attempt to clear his sodomy conviction.

In a blog post, Zaid described the former opposition leader as one that Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) were afraid of as Anwar was a fighter, “and a consistent and tenacious one at that”.

Zaid said it was not a bad idea to start the journey in 2020 – a date former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had targeted for Malaysia to achieve developed nation status – with Anwar at the helm.

“That prospect alone should send great excitement amongst the people of this country, and propel them to work harder and be united to win the next general election. The best present we, the people of this country, can give to Anwar is for him to be prime minister, one day soon.”

The former Kota Bharu lawmaker also brushed aside the concerns of cynics who believed Anwar would not be able to resolve the dispute between Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s choice of Muhyiddin Yassin and Pakatan Harapan’s choice of himself as prime minister.

“But then, they say Anwar is in jail and is, therefore, not qualified by reason of his conviction. Well, we know that, but someone will be prime minister in the interim and that someone will be Anwar’s choice.

“I have no doubt that Dr Mahathir will agree with Anwar’s choice. The interim candidate will be one who can maximise the opposition’s chances of winning, and someone Anwar has confidence in to lead the nation in the interim.”

Zaid said the interim prime minister could be either Anwar’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail or his daughter Nurul Izzah or “his one-time nemesis”, or anyone who led the opposition parties.

The only name the people would object to, he quickly added, was PAS president Hadi Awang.

“So the road is set for a new Malaysia. The people who want change just have to be more positive and willing to see the glass as half full rather than half empty.

“They should remember the hard work and sacrifice that those in the opposition put in every day. They must know how many of us risk arrest and imprisonment just for speaking up for everyone in this country.

“They must not be so careless with their assessment of the opposition. They must be more understanding and supportive instead,” he pleaded.

Earlier today, Anwar failed in his final attempt to use the courts to clear himself of his sodomy conviction after the Federal Court dismissed his review application.

A five-member panel led by Chief Judge of the High Court of Malaya Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin said there was no merit to review the application.