Guan Eng wanted Shafie as PM? That’s Dr M’s version, says Anwar

(FMT) – PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has voiced doubt over Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that the proposal to nominate Shafie Apdal as the opposition’s prime minister candidate came from DAP’s Lim Guan Eng.

In an interview with Sin Chew Daily, Anwar said he did not believe the narrative to be true.

“That is Mahathir’s version. I believe Lim,” he said.

In an interview with The Malaysian Insight, Mahathir had claimed it was Lim who mooted Shafie as the prime minister candidate only to backtrack and support Anwar instead.

“Earlier on, I asked them if they really wanted Shafie and they said ‘yes’ but after meeting Anwar, they changed (their minds),” the former prime minister was quoted as saying.

Mahathir had, after a meeting with DAP and Amanah leaders, announced that Shafie would be the prime minister candidate while Anwar and Mukhriz Mahathir would be the deputy prime ministers.

DAP and Amanah subsequently denied this, saying it was only a proposal and no decision had been made.

Later, the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council announced that it would support Anwar as its prime minister candidate.