PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said his daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar’s statement criticising Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as “difficult to work with” was a personal view and did not reflect his or the party’s sentiments.

Anwar reiterated that he and his family had always provided space and given Dr Mahathir the opportunity to become prime minister.

“The statement was made long ago and reported by The Straits Times from Singapore. I understand (the statement) it does not so much refer to Dr Mahathir, but (that) there is a voice behind the attack.

“Firstly, our focus should be the economy. We in Pakatan Harapan have explained our resolve and given support to Dr Mahathir’s efforts. It does not mean that we cannot differ from opinion and reprimand.

“There are people who think that this is like the former government Umno.

“But it was our family (that) gave Dr Mahathir the chance to become prime minister,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

In an interview with Singapore’s The Sunday Times recently, Nurul Izzah said she was serving her last term as MP as she had found politics so “turbulent”.

She also said she had found it “hard” working with Dr Mahathir, who is PH chairman, after “what he did to her family”, in reference to events 20 years ago when her father Anwar was sacked from government by Dr Mahathir, who was then prime minister.

Anwar said he understood the context of Nurul Izzah’s views and that there was no need to debate them.

Prime minister’s political secretary Abu Bakar Yahya said Nurul should not have made negative comments about Dr Mahathir, especially in an interview with Singapore media.

Abu Bakar said while wise in the area of politics, Nurul was still immature, irrational, and emotional.

“What the prime minister and the government are currently doing should not be seen in a personal context by Nurul Izzah, but must be seen as a whole in the interest of the people and nation.

“As she is a member of parliament and a former PKR vice-president, I am certain Nurul Izzah has not forgotten that Dr Mahathir is the prime minister by the unanimous decision of the PH leadership council, while all decisions related to the government administration are jointly made by the cabinet members,” he said. – March 26, 2019.