Nazri: Dr M's nomination as PM candidate is 'regressive'

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan's choice of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime ministerial candidate is "regressive", said Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

The Tourism and Culture Minister contrasted the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) chairman's nomination with Zimbabwe's ouster of former leader Robert Mugabe.

"A country like Zimbabwe can kick out a 93-year-old man. Has Mahathir got leadership qualities now?" said Nazri after an MOU signing between developer Yong Tai Bhd and travel companies for an upcoming cultural performance franchise in Melaka on Monday.

Also present was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Dr Wee said it was better for Barisan Nasional to leave Pakatan to its internal problems and focus on improving citizens' lives.

The MCA deputy president said Dr Mahathir and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's nominations were because the Opposition coalition had no other candidates to choose from.

On Sunday (Jan 7), at the Pakatan convention, the coalition unanimously settled on Dr Mahathir as the candidate for prime minister and Dr Wan Azizah as his deputy should they make it to Putrajaya.

The decision was set in an agreement of cooperation, which was signed by Dr Mahathir, Dr Wan Azizah as PKR president, Pribumi president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Moha­mad Sabu.

Among others, the agreement stipulated that a royal pardon would be obtained for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim once Pakatan wrested Putrajaya from Barisan and be made prime minister.