Wan Azizah not ruling out possible commission to investigate Mahathir if opposition wins GE14

(NST) – A commission could be set up to investigate allegations against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his 22-year tenure as prime minister.

PKR president and opposition pact leader, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, said she would not rule out such a possibility, but it will depend on the Opposition forming the federal government.

“It could only be done if PKR is able to defeat Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th General Election (GE14).

“Let us win the election first. We will investigate everything such as 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad).

“We will do what the country needs and Dr Mahathir himself had given his views on the setting up of an independent inquiry,” she told reporters in Parliament today.

Her comment came in the wake of the criticism levelled against Dr Mahathir by the pro-reformasi group Otai Reformasi which had demanded the opposition pact – as part of its election manifesto – to form a peace and justice commission which will look into allegations against the former prime minister.

They also refused to accept Dr Mahathir’s leadership in the government, be it as a minister or a government advisor should the opposition pact wins GE14.

Their rejection of Dr Mahathir had even led to the resignation of its chairman Saari Sungib, who is also Selangor Amanah deputy chief.

At the same time, Dr Wan Azizah conceded that PKR supporters and grassroots are still divided over the participation of their former nemesis in the opposition pact.

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to six years in prison for corruption on April 14, 1999, and nine years for sodomy on Aug 8, 2000 – during Mahathir’s rule.

“Nevertheless, the four parties in the opposition coalition (DAP, PKR, Amanah and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) had agreed to Dr Mahathir being the chairman.

“They can agree and disagree, but we must continue to move forward.” she said.