Dr Mahathir is no Mugabe, says Anwar

Bede Hong Bede Hong Updated 6 years ago · Published on 8 Feb 2018 3:37PM · 2 Comments

Anwar Ibrahim supporters show their support outside the high court in Jalan Duta. One of them held a banner with the words ‘Bebas Anwar Sekarang’ (Free Anwar now). – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, February 8, 2018.

DR Mahathir Mohamad should not be compared to deposed Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe, said Anwar Ibrahim.

“Mahathir is not Mugabe. Mugabe was firm,” the former deputy prime minister told reporters after a hearing today on his application to strike out his second sodomy conviction.

“Mahathir is prepared to make necessary changes. The government has maligned him enough,” Anwar said to a query from a New York Times correspondent. 

Mugabe, 93, was forced to resign as president following a military coup in November. 

Mugabe led Zimbabwe since 1980 and is blamed for plunging the country into civil strife and for causing an economic decline that lead to inflation reaching 100,000% in 2008.

Dr Mahathir, 92, served as Malaysian prime minister from 1981 to 2003. Both have been described as close associates and were staunch critics of what they called the west’s neo-colonial imperialism against the developing world. 

In 2002, Malaysia was one of four countries to block United Kingdom’s Tony Blair from moving to expel Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth for sponsoring violence against opposition leaders. 

In 2008, the UK Sunday Telegraph reported Mugabe had channelled US$10 million (RM39.2 million) into bank accounts in Malaysia. This was denied by officials of both countries.  

Dr Mahathir left the ruling Umno in February 2016. He later formed Bersatu with former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah MB Mukhriz Mahathir after both were sacked from Umno. 

Dr Mahathir was made chairman of the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan in July 14, 2017 and was named nominee for prime minister on January 7 this year should the coalition win Putrajaya in the next election. 

In a statement in 2015, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said Dr Mahathir’s 22-year tenure as prime minister was when Malaysia first began to “rot”, due to corruption and rampant power abuse.

“Furthermore, Dr Mahathir should be reminded … he single-handedly destroyed the independence, impartiality and professionalism not only of the judiciary, but also of other important national institutions like the police, the Election Commission, the anti-corruption agency, and the civil service,” Lim had said. 

However, in a statement last week, Lim said only Dr Mahathir could sway Malay voters to help the coalition overcome “gerrymandering and unfair democratic practices”

“If Mahathir cannot help create a wave of change among the rural Malay voters for 14GE in the remaining 100 days, then no other political leader could accomplish this ‘Mission Impossible,” he said in a statement. – February 8, 2018.

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Comments

  • The once affinity between Mugabe and Mahathir used to be my favourite subject of attack against the former, ridiculing them as twins, particularly during the early Reformasi days.
    But lo and behold, two decades on, the “twins” cannot be more unlike. One is deposed in disgrace, while the other is fighting to save the nation. Such is the strangeness and unpredictability of politics!
    If you ask me whether the role Mahathir is playing is genuine, my simple answer is yes. As a famous Chinese saying goes, a man’s position in history is not sealed until he is buried.

    Posted 6 years ago by Kim quek · Reply

  • I am not a fan of anwar but I have to agree with him that mahatir is not like Mugabe. Mahatir is the father of ketuanan melayu and religious bigot. Mugabe was instrumental to gain independence for Zimbabwe.

    Posted 6 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply