Anwar, Dr Mahathir must team up against ‘enemy’, says Chin Tong

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 5 years ago · Published on 9 Jun 2020 11:00AM · 8 Comments

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim (left) were last seen together on March 1 during the political crisis which led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government. – EPA pic, June 9, 2020.

IT’S critical that Anwar Ibrahim and Dr Mahathir Mohamad join forces again as the opponent is even bigger, said DAP strategist Liew Chin Tong.

“We need both as there is a larger opponent of Muhyiddin Yassin and Najib Razak. With the bigger opponent, Pakatan (Harapan) needs both Anwar and Dr Mahathir,” said the former deputy defence minister at a webinar last night.

Liew, a former two-term MP, was responding to a question on whether Dr Mahathir was still relevant, given that he is 94.

On whether, Anwar and Dr Mahathir can reconcile after reports claiming that both did not want to meet one another, Liew said he is hopeful.

“I hope that we can find a way forward and recognise that both Anwar and Dr Mahathir need each other in order to proceed.

“I hope both recognise that they are not enemies.”

Both Anwar and Dr Mahathir have a long history as competitors and collaborators, he said.

“In 1969, Anwar was distributing Dr Mahathir’s letters about the state of Malays. Throughout the years, they have come together and fallen out. At this moment, we must manage differences in order to deal with the main opponent.

“There are differences but eventually good sense will prevail when we understand what is at stake.”

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin replaced its chairman Dr Mahathir as prime minister following the latter’s resignation in late February.

Muhyiddin withdrew Bersatu from PH to form an alliance with Umno, PAS, and Sarawak’s ruling pact GPS.

Since the collapse of PH, Dr Mahathir and Anwar have not been seen in public together and both appear to have sidestepped each other at press conferences organised in the pact’s name.

Meanwhile, Liew again dispelled speculation that DAP was a “communist” party.

“Accusing someone of being communist was the easiest way to discredit them during the time of the Cold War from 1948 till the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

“In the United States, there would be with hunts if you criticised the conservatives. But what is communism? Is China a communist today with all its businesses?” said Liew.

As for DAP, Liew said the party never believed in communism as it believes in democratic elections.

“Since its founding in 1966, DAP has taken part in all the democratic struggle although it was unfair at time. It is a parliamentary party,” said Liew.

DAP is commonly labelled communist by right-wing parties, such as Umno and PAS. – June 9, 2020.

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Comments

  • The idea of M and Anwar teaming up is totally ridiculous as they both do not trust each other but put up a show publicly for political gain. That is bad for Malaysia cos after gaining power the cat will be out of the bag. You will see their schemes to outcast each other and cause political turmoil just like what M did recently to resign as PM. He does not think of the country at that time cos it more important for him to win his political opponent

    Posted 5 years ago by Jos Koh · Reply

  • Better stay in opposition.

    Posted 5 years ago by Watch Dog · Reply

  • Set the common policies and strategies to cushion the Malay comMuNity for their good support, open opportunity support for non Malay to progress. No absolute power of PM but has last say on tug of war case.

    Posted 5 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Mahathir is not a Good Choice of being PM Malaysia bcoz he got his own personal agenda he is not serving the Nation Msia he serving his family n cronies only. It would be Great if in GE15 mahathir n family can be DO AWAY WITH IN MSIAN POLITICS. Mahathir take rest stay at home Pray Alot ask GOD for Forgiveness for All ur Sins that u did to Chinese Indian Sikhs Christians etc etc .

    Posted 5 years ago by Lucky Boy · Reply

  • Create a new party consist of young Malays, Chinese & Indian to flight all this corrupted Malay leaders during the G15. Trust me with all this old folks nothing will change. They are going to continue fighting each other for coming decades. MAKE A CHANGE THIS TIME TO FIGHT all this Malay corrupted/racist leaders

    Posted 5 years ago by James Ravi · Reply

    • True. Like Canada having Trudeau, young leaders for Msia is the way to go.

      Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • DAP really needs new blood, good capable Leader who can bypass the cronies and trust from the villages Malay and Urban youth, then there will be more hope, because season Malay Politicians are very shrewd and cunning. They can use religion, race, education, money to instigate the poor citizen to go against them.

    Posted 5 years ago by Albert Chiu · Reply

    • DAP pls dont take the Cunning Old Man as PM again . Find young dinamic people throw away all these cunning old senile politicians

      Posted 5 years ago by Lucky Boy · Reply