Mahathir to hand over Malaysia PM’s post in 2 years
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Muhamad said that he
will honor the understanding among Pakatan Harapan (PH) partners that he
will hold the role as an interim prime minister for two years before
stepping down.
This will allow the handover of the prime minister’s post to former political prisoner Anwar Ibrahim.
Malaysia’s Bernama news portal reported that the 93-year-old leader told
an audience of Malaysians in Brunei that he will honor the PH secession
agreement following concern about a repeat of history on the choice of
successor.
“I am confident that he (Anwar Ibrahim) is now more mature and much
experienced,” Mahathir said. Analyst Prof. James Chin is not surprised
by Mahathir’s remark. He told Arab News that most people around the
world expect Ibrahim to take over the reins.
“If it goes ahead, it will be good as it shows you can have peaceful transition,” added Prof. James.
Malaysia demonstrated a peaceful transition during the 14th general
elections in May where the new PH government was formed without
bloodshed or violent riots.
Dr. Greg Lopez, political analyst at Australia’s Murdoch University,
said that this is unique in Malaysian coalition politics because
Mahathir is from a different political party than Anwar Ibrahim.
“In a region filled with chaotic and violent politics such as in
Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia, Malaysia would demonstrate a very
peaceful transition,” he said.
The PH coalition consists of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party
(Bersatu), Democratic Action Party (DAP), National Trust Party (Amanah)
and People’s Justice Party (PKR). Mahathir is the president of Bersatu
while Anwar is the newly elected PKR president.
Despite being called a chameleon politician by many, Mahathir denied
accusations that he is an “Ultra Malay,” saying that it was no different
from other labels hurled against him describing his authoritarian
leadership.
“Mahathir’s has set Malaysia on the path to democratization and despite
all suspicion from international media, he sticks to it.”
In a region stirred by the resurgence or the continuity of authoritarian
practices, the once called dictator is now setting an unexpected
example,” said Dr. Sophie Lemiere, a fellow at NUS- Stanford University.
“For me the country comes first, so that there no wide gap between the
races. Even if a country is not multiracial, if there is wide
disparities among the people, it will invite disaster,” he said, adding
that his and PH’s mission is to prevent inequality gap and address
racial issues.
Mahathir said that after stepping down, he hopes “to see Malaysia as a
pride of all people as in the past and return Malaysia to its glory when
the country was called an Asian Tiger and wanted the government to be
more democratic and not kleptocratic.”
He also wished to see the upholding of the rule of law to protect the
people and Malaysia as a developed nation as envisaged under Vision
2020, though the target date may need to extend further. Vision 2020 was
introduced in 1991 by Mahathir Muhamad during his first premiership.
However, Anwar may have some unresolved baggage regarding his alleged sodomy charges and his Islamic credentials.
Prof James said that there is a section of the Malaysian public who
feels Anwar is not eligible due to the sodomy allegations. “If Anwar
does become prime minister, it’s a remarkable comeback considering he
was imprisoned just a year ago,” he said.
“If not for Najib Razak and his wife’s personal failures (1MDB
corruption allegations), I do not see much difference between Najib
Razak, Mahathir Muhamad and Anwar Ibrahim. All subscribe to the same
model of politics — Malay and Islamic supremacy and patronage politics,”
said Dr. Lopez.
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