PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said there was never any doubt his designated successor Anwar Ibrahim would return to Parliament.

“Well, we expected him to come back. We knew he would. When we have seven people contesting (in the Port Dickson by-election), the opposition (votes) will always split up between the six (candidates) and No. 7 will win. 

“And he won very big,” the prime minister told reporters in the Parliament lobby today after Anwar was sworn in as Port Dickson MP.

Anwar, 71, won the by-election on Saturday with a resounding majority of 23,560 votes over six other contenders.

He is expected to become the country’s eighth prime minister, succeeding Dr Mahathir, under an agreement between all Pakatan Harapan parties.

On how he felt, the 93-year-old said: “Of course, I’m happy. He’s from the same party.”

Besides Dr Mahathir (Langkawi-PH), Anwar’s swearing-in was also witnessed by former prime minister Najib Razak (Pekan-BN), making the event unique for Malaysian politics for being the first time the nation’s past, current and future prime ministers shared the same room.

Anwar was convicted for sodomy in 2015 under Najib’s administration. This is the second time Anwar has returned to Parliament after being jailed.

His first return to Parliament was in August 2008 after Anwar won his home seat, Permatang Pauh, in a by-election. – October 15, 2018.