PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has refuted a report claiming that he said there were saboteurs within Pakatan Harapan seeking to derail the plan for him to take over as prime minister. 

Speaking to reporters after the Pakatan Harapan presidential meeting this afternoon, Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP, denied telling the Financial Times there were people out to sabotage his candidacy.

“I didn’t say (sabotage) but that some elements may not agree (with the plan),” he said.

“There is no issue about this matter,” added Anwar, who was seated next to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

In the Financial Times report published on Wednesday, Anwar had reportedly said there were people out to put a stop to the arrangement between him and Dr Mahathir.

“There are pockets, people who, for their own reasons, would like to sabotage the arrangement,” he was quoted as saying.

“I can’t deny some people in the ruling coalition (have) a different agenda.”

This was the first time that Anwar had publicly admitted to a conspiracy against him, an issue raised by his loyalists in the run-up to the PKR polls last year.

Yesterday, Otai Reformasi, a veterans’ group known for its loyalty to Anwar, said two people in the party wanted to prevent him from becoming prime minister in two years.

“Otai Reformasi will oppose anyone who attempts to thwart Anwar from becoming prime minister, (a plan that has been) agreed to by the PH presidential council,” said the group’s chairman, Dr Idris Ahmad.

Without mentioning names, he said Facebook posts, including a statement by “a minister”, pointed to such a move.

Claims of a sabotage attempt surfaced when vice-president Rafizi Ramli’s camp, during the PKR polls campaign, had said deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali did not want Anwar to become prime minister.

This week, PH secretary-general Saifuddin Abdullah said there was no formal agreement for Dr Mahathir to hand over the reins to Anwar in two years.

However, Dr Mahathir has repeatedly said he will stick to the succession plan, and Anwar has said there is no reason for him not to believe Dr Mahathir.

“He has done it once (denied succession). Will he do it again? I think the circumstances have changed,” Anwar was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

He did not name the alleged saboteurs.

Last week, Anwar and Azmin publicly clashed over the former’s decision to appoint those aligned with him to the PKR central leadership council despite them having lost in the party elections. – January 4, 2019.