A SARAWAK Barisan Nasional leader has called the selection of a 92-year-old “retired prime minister” as the opposition prime minister a joke that surpasses America’s picking of Donald Trump to be the US president.

“It’s a stunning political circus,” Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office, Abdullah Saidol said of Pakatan Harapan’s announcement that Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be prime minister if it wins the 14th general election.

“When the Americans picked Donald Trump as their president to lead their super power nation, I thought it was a landmark democratic joke in practice which could lead to more global chaos.

“Least expected was that PH would actually emulate such (a) move and perform a more stunning political circus by announcing a 92-year-old retired PM as our future leader if it were to take over as the Malaysian government,” Abdullah, who is also chief political secretary to the chief minister, said.

Abdullah also questioned the opposition leadership’s ability to administer the nation.

He said PH had preached nothing but how it would replace the BN government to move towards a dynamic and more prosperous Malaysia.

“Do you think PH capable of fulfilling such inspirations with such a cloddish structure of leadership?

“They can’t even manage themselves to at least give us a convincing impression that they are believable and mutually united, and they dream of managing the fate and future of our nation,” Abdullah said pointing to the alleged infighting over the coalition’s choice of prime minister.

“PKR leaders have openly shown their displeasure at the choice of PM candidate while Tun M’s own party, Bersatu members have openly voiced their displeasure at how its first annual general meeting was conducted, they claimed it was irregular and contravened the party’s own constitution.”

Abdullah also questioned the wavering of key DAP, PKR and Amanah leaders who had frequently in the past called Dr Mahathir “the most corrupt and draconian leader in our political history”, but who were now announcing that the same man would be the next PM if they were to take charge of the country.

Abdullah said what Sarawak and the country needed now was unity and peace among their multi-ethnic society and more development projects.

“We want a government that genuinely do not take us in the rural areas for granted,” said the assemblyman for Semop on the impoverished island of Pulau Bruit at the mouth of the Rajang river.

“PH consists of leaders who are well known for bigotry, racism, and mischief.

“I can only conclude beyond doubt that this PH is basically the coalition of hope-less.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister James Masing said it was difficult for the opposition coalition to achieve consensus on who should lead because everyone wished to be the leader.

Masing, who was in Belaga to attend the funeral of his father-in-law, said PH was “a collection of disgruntled politicians whose only commonality is dissatisfaction and unfulfilled personal aspirations”.

The Parti Rakyat Sarawak president said they might sleep in the same bed, but they “each had a different dream”. – January 8, 2018.