PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was not surprised that Dr Mahathir Mohamad had teamed up with Muhyiddin Yassin ahead of elections in six states

“We know that they will continue to collude to defend their ways and wealth,” said the Pakatan Harapan chairman at the EPF International Social Wellbeing Conference today. .

“But we will continue to defend the country and the people.”

Anwar was commenting on a Tuesday meeting between the two Malay leaders to discuss Dr Mahathir’s Malay Proclamation movement, three years after their acrimonious struggle for power in 2020.

In a statement yesterday, Malay Proclamation secretariat chairman Khairuddin Abu Hassan said the meeting between the two former prime ministers gave new hope to the Malay community. 

“The meeting between the two Malay leaders, which lasted almost two hours last night, will give new impetus to the Malay Proclamation movement to continue to drive the agenda to empower and strengthen the position of our Malay people in our homeland,” Khairuddin said.

“This highly meaningful meeting is a manifestation of total Malay unification that Dr Mahathir is working towards in order to fulfil the hopes and dreams of all Malay people.”

In a separate statement yesterday, Muhyiddin said Dr Mahathir had agreed to “strengthen Malay unity and enhance support for Perikatan Nasional” ahead of elections on August 12. – July 6, 2023.