No actual date, says Dr Mahathir on handover to Anwar

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 6 Nov 2019 11:10AM · 2 Comments

Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he doesn’t want to repeat past mistakes in appointing successors to the prime minister’s post. – EPA pic, November 6, 2019.

THERE is no set time for Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s handover of power to Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister reiterated in an interview with the Financial Times.

Dr Mahathir also agreed with the interviewer, Stefania Palma, that he is likely the only person who can run Malaysia right now.

Palma asked him if he would step down in 2020 “as originally planned”.

“No. There was no actual date or time mentioned. But the actual time that I will be there depends on the problems that we face,” Dr Mahathir said.

“I’ve had some experience resolving financial problems, so they want me to solve the problems before I step down,” he said in the interview recorded during the Asean Summit in Bangkok last weekend but released today.

Asked if he would still hand over to Anwar, who is PKR president and Port Dickson MP, Dr Mahathir replied: “Yes, it is, it is a promise that I made”.

To a question that about conspiracy theories that he might not step down at all, he said he had made “mistakes” in the past when appointing successors, “so I don’t want to make mistakes this time”.

“So, you think Mahathir Mohamad is the only person who can run Malaysia right now?” said Palma.

“At the moment, maybe,” said Dr Mahathir.

The 2020 transition date was mentioned by Anwar in an interview with Bloomberg in September. 

The transition, to which all parties in the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition have agreed, has been widely reported as taking place “in about two years” after PH formed the federal government last year.

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman later said the agreement between the PH parties never specified “two years”.

Both Dr Mahathir and Anwar, despite their repeated assurance that the transition to the latter will take place, are often asked if it is still on the cards.

Dr Mahathir has said it is difficult to set a fixed timeline because of the country’s debt problems. The non-committal answer has irked several Anwar supporters in PKR who have publicly attacked Dr Mahathir, who is also PH chairman.

Anwar has publicly stated that he and Dr Mahathir have agreed that a fixed date should not be stated in public as it could undermine the current prime minister. – November 6, 2019.

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Comments

  • Come on. Just resign and be advisor to Anwar. What's the problem

    Posted 4 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • Millions who voted Anwar Ibrahim as leader of the change movement are waiting. I think the work is done, thank you and please hand over the reins to the real choice of Malaysians. I hope that DR M will stop delaying this as the longer he holds on to it, millions are wondering whether this democratic transition will take place or Anwar Ibrahim has become a victim of another ambush. It was wrong to charge, prosecute and vilify Anwar Ibrahim who is now found to be innocent of all charges. It is an ADMISSION THAT HIS IMPRISONMENT was politically motivated. I think Malaysians cannot forgive the previous junta for this-dismissal of judges, operation lallang etc. It is now time to look past all that and to rise up to a New Democratic Secular Malaysia. WE sincerely hope that Mahathir leave with dignity ( Malay dignity) and let the new take over power.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Lucas · Reply