Dr M to Pakatan: Ignore me and wave goodbye to Malay support!
(Focus Malaysia) – PAKATAN Harapan will risk losing Malay support in the next general election if they refuse to cooperate with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In an interview with local daily China Press, Dr Mahathir based his argument on the fact that his involvement with Pakatan during the 2018 general election helped gain considerable Malay support.
“I had helped Pakatan to win because I brought in Malay support. You know DAP, which could never get more than 18 seats, got 42 seats because of the Malay support I brought in.
“So, by excluding me, you’re excluding Malay support. You’re going to lose,” he was reported saying.
A search by FocusM found that Mahathir’s may have erred on DAP’s numbers. In 2013, Pakatan won 89 MP seats with the DAP securing 38 of them. At the time, the strongman politician was not with Pakatan.
However, it needs to be pointed that Dr Mahathir’s entry into Pakatan via his Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) helped the coalition to win federal power in 2018 albeit with only an additional 13 MP seats.
Cold shoulder treatment from Anwar
When Dr Mahathir took over the premiership in 2018, the Langkawi MP promised to hand over the reins to Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim within two years.
However, Mahathir flip-flopped on the decision on many occasions, triggering a political crisis which ended Pakatan’s hold on federal power with the former resigning abruptly.
While several factions within the DAP and Parti Amanah Negara are open to working with Mahathir again, PKR is seen to be against it.
On Anwar’s icy relationship with him, Dr Mahathir claimed that the former had rejected his olive branch on numerous occasions.
“I helped Anwar a lot. I released him from jail and I stepped down earlier than scheduled.
“I’m still open to work with him but if he doesn’t like me, I’m alright with that.
“Just give me another six months because if you don’t have Malay support, the Opposition cannot win’,” he added.
Najib pokes fun at Dr M
On related matter, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mocked Mahathir’s assertion that the Malays would sway towards wherever the latter’s allegiance went.
“Mahathir was right on his assessment. After 22 years of championing our race and religion, two Malays managed to become among the top 10 richest Malaysians in 2014.
“One is Mahathir’s friend and the other is his own son. So, if he makes another video crying all over the place, more Malays will give him support,” said the Pekan MP, in a Facebook post.
