DAP and Amanah never abandoned Anwar, says Kit Siang

PETALING JAYA: Making Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad the ninth prime minister is the surest way for PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be the 10th prime minister, says DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

The Iskandar Puteri MP said that DAP is not abandoning Anwar for Dr Mahathir, but being realistic in view of the current political situation.

"The question buzzing in most minds in the past one week is why DAP and Parti Amanah Negara have abandoned Anwar in favour of Dr Mahathir.

"They are wrong. DAP and Amanah have never abandoned Anwar in favour of Dr Mahathir as it is the surest way for Anwar to become prime minister.

"We must not be a prisoner of the past or the historic decision of May 9,2018, bringing about a peaceful and democratic change of government would not have taken place," said Lim in a statement on Tuesday (June 23).

He further admitted that Pakatan had made mistakes during its 22-month tenure when it was the Federal government.

"With the question of the prime minister settled with regard to the transition of Dr Mahathir as the ninth prime minister to Anwar as the 10th prime minister in six months' time, a coalition system of decision-making with regard to major appointments and mode of Cabinet governance would have to be agreed upon.

"But we must be realistic. Even with all these factors in place, there is no guarantee of success to restore the mandate of the voters in the 14th General Election," said Lim.

Lim's statement came in the midst of a disagreement between PKR and the other opposition parties as to who should be the next prime minister.

PKR MPs have been adamant that Anwar must be the prime ministerial candidate as opposed to deposed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman Dr Mahathir.

This is in spite of other Pakatan coalition partners, DAP and Amanah, believing that Dr Mahathir would be a better candidate as he could bring in more Malay support as well as garner stronger backing in Parliament.