Anwar not a good fit for PM, says Dr Mahathir

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 3 years ago · Published on 14 Nov 2020 7:00AM · 8 Comments

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Anwar Ibrahim’s suggestions during the Asian financial crisis in 1997 did not help Malaysia recover its financial standings. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, November 14, 2020.

ANWAR Ibrahim will not be a good prime minister for Malaysia as he may not be able to navigate the country out of a financial crisis, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister said this was evident in 1997 when he allowed Anwar, then his deputy, to handle the Asian financial crisis for two months, while he went on a sabbatical.

“I have tested his capabilities when I was prime minister. I took a holiday for two months and Anwar took over the reins. We had an economic crisis at the time, and his suggestions did not help the country recover its financial standings.

“That is why I had to take over from the finance minister and come up with plans to save the country from economic woes.

“I do not know how the people saw this, but what was clear during the financial crisis in 1997 was, Anwar was not capable,” Dr Mahathir told The Malaysian Insight.

Anwar, who was finance minister in Mahathir’s cabinet at the height of the currency crisis, was sacked in 1998.

The two were widely reported to have fallen out over differences in handling the economy. Anwar had then welcomed a rescue package by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which Dr Mahathir rejected.

The Langkawi MP claimed Anwar had blindly followed the advice of the IMF and World Bank instead of prioritising Malaysia’s economy.

“He always followed the World Bank and IMF. I told him before if we followed their suggestions, our country would not have enough funds to even pay salaries. But he continued supporting them,” he said.

When Dr Mahathir returned to office, he reversed several of Anwar’s decisions and launched a policy package to insulate Malaysia from external forces, including pegging the ringgit against the US dollar.

Malaysia was hailed globally for leading the strongest recovery among the nations badly affected by the economic crisis.

Dr Mahathir also revealed Anwar currently did not include him or his new party, Pejuang, in attempts to overthrow the Perikatan Nasional government.

“Even though Bersatu has left Pakatan Harapan (PH), a few others and I are still willing to work with PH to return the mandate to the people.

“We can get a majority but Anwar has refused to work together with us – me especially.

“If he rejects me, then I cannot invite others to support PH as well to get a majority. That is why we are not in government,” Dr Mahathir said.

However, the Pejuang chairman said there might be supporters outside, and even in the Dewan Rakyat, who would not support Anwar despite him agreeing to it.

“I suspect if I promise he becomes the prime minister, a lot of my very own supporters will reject the idea. Maybe that would lead to not having any majority at all,” he said.

Anwar, who is opposition leader, previously claimed he has the majority to form government but is still waiting for the palace to have an audience with other political party leaders to confirm his numbers.

The PKR president claimed he had a strong and formidable majority to overthrow Muhyiddin Yassin’s government.

Despite that, Dr Mahathir remains unconvinced and is worried Anwar might be delusional.

“He is still not prime minister today even though he claimed several times he is going to be.

“There have been preparations made for him to be sworn in but alas that did not happen,” the former prime minister added. – November 14, 2020.

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Comments

  • Did we have the strongest recovery? I think those countries like South Korea and Thailand that followed the IMF and World bank recovered much faster and their economies are much stronger than Malaysia's despite Thailand being under martial law. Perhaps we did not suffer as much during the crisis due to the artificial insulation to our economy. Until today, there is still no boom after the 1997 crisis. Your policies, esp the ones centered on race and religion has caused untold and perhaps irreversible damage to the economy. Your condoning of widespread corruption among top UMNO officials and your cronies is well known. Your children being rich beyond reason and their ability is a damning evidence of your own inability to govern fairly. Your main reason of removing DSAI is because he refused to bail out your son who had suffered mental breakdown as the result, and you never forgave DSAI since then. Who are you to pass judgement now that DSAI is not fit to be the PM. You did such a bad job, as with other PMs after you, no body can possibly do worse. I wonder if by judging DSAI on the 1997 financial crisis, whether you are also judging so many heads of governments of so many countries who took the IMF and World Bank advice. You are an egocentric maniac who think too highly of yourself and only you can do right. When you meet the Creator finally and soon, then you will know how little you are, and how evil you have been. RIP TDM

    Posted 3 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply

  • Aiyo orang tua, cukup la

    Posted 3 years ago by Chai Hin Goh · Reply

  • The Chameleon speaks... The Liar speaks...The Fox speaks... The Snake speaks...The Senile speaks... The Cheat speaks... The Psychopath speaks... The Villain speaks... what he speaks? Bullshit

    Posted 3 years ago by Malaysian Politics · Reply

  • just go and die lah. leave country alone. enough of you

    Posted 3 years ago by . . · Reply

  • The point is it is not your decision to make. PH was elected on the platform that you would make way for Anwar as PM. But you never let democracy get it the way of your plans.

    Posted 3 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply

  • The leaders , nominated by Tun M to be PMs never did a good job. They have squanderd the countries finances. Are there any Malay leaders , apart from you, who can be fit to be PM.

    Posted 3 years ago by Aplanaidu Pathanaidu · Reply

  • The financial crisis was unprecedented. It was fortunate some right guy came out and rescue the nation. However the one who tried and did not succeed need not be condemned for life and certainly to the extent of being a subject of vengeful actions.

    Posted 3 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • **not to the extent...

      Posted 3 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply