Call an election now if you dare, Dr M tells Anwar

The former prime minister says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should put his support among Malaysians to the test.

(FMT) – Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has dared Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to call for an election to test his support among Malaysians.

Mahathir claimed that his former deputy is abusing his power by getting the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate his political enemies and influencing the judiciary to let his allies off the hook.

He said he never resorted to such measures in his over two decades in power.

“I was once a prime minister…But these things didn’t happen,” he said at a press conference here. “I won every election with two-thirds majority. Five elections, two-thirds majority.”

“People had the chance to throw me out. If I had been abusing my position, I would not have won those elections.

“I challenge Anwar to call for an election today… to see what the people think.”

Anwar was appointed Malaysia’s 10th prime minister on Nov 24, 2022, after the 15th general election led to a hung Parliament.

He obtained the majority support to form the government after being backed by MPs from Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, Warisan and others.

Pakatan Harapan won 82 seats, Perikatan Nasional 73, BN 30, GPS 23, GRS six and Warisan three seats. Two independents were also elected.

In a swipe at Anwar, Mahathir said that political leaders become prime ministers and form governments after winning elections.

“… but he lost,” said Mahathir.

Mahathir, who contested the Langkawi seat in GE15, was among the 369 candidates who lost their deposits after securing less than one-eighth of the votes.