A top DAP leader says the party and Pakatan Harapan (PH) do not need the support of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the next general election.
Speaking to Twentytwo13, the senior member of the party who requested anonymity, said talks of wanting Dr Mahathir as PH’s prime minister candidate were “mere imagination”.
His views came on the heels of Johor DAP chief, Dr Boo Cheng Hau’s revelations today that “former ministers” from DAP had used online meeting sessions to influence grassroots members to withdraw support from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and instead, back the 96-year-old Dr Mahathir as the latter was apparently, “more capable”.
Boo also said that in one of the Zoom meetings, he refuted the claims of a former minister who had praised Dr Mahathir, although it was the former premier who was the main reason for PH’s collapse in 2020 – barely two years after winning the 2018 general election, and Putrajaya.
“I think Boo has got the wrong perception. I think there is no one in DAP who prefers Dr Mahathir to be the next prime minister, or even be our coalition partner,” said the leader.
“DAP’s stand is clear and Pakatan Harapan’s choice for prime minister is, and will be, from PKR. If (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim is the only choice from PKR, then it will be Anwar.”
Pakatan Harapan accepted Dr Mahathir and his then party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia into the coalition in 2018. Dr Mahathir was later named the coalition’s choice for prime minister ahead of the 14th general election.
Among the reasons Dr Mahathir was accepted into Pakatan Harapan was his ability to gain the support of rural voters who felt PH had not done enough to defend the rights of the Malays.
Asked if Anwar had such an appeal, the top DAP man said: “In order to achieve that, Anwar must transform himself to win their trust and support.”
“He (Anwar) is losing his trust and support of the Malay community. There is an image problem. He needs to do something, but Dr Mahathir is totally not in the picture at all,” he said.
Here are Twentytwo13’s news highlights today.
MTUC SAYS I-CITRA WITHDRAWALS A BAD IDEA
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) urged the government to not allow withdrawals from the i-Citra scheme.
MTUC, in a statement, said the government should instead help people by introducing additional incentives.
MTUC said most of the Employees’ Provident Fund contributors had savings of less than RM10,000 and would have to work an additional four to six years to replenish their savings.
EDUCATION MINISTRY STRENGTHENS FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS BULLYING IN SCHOOLS
Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said his ministry had drawn up a comprehensive framework to address bullying in schools.
The framework involved strengthening and improving the existing system, while focusing on four areas – awareness, reporting, punishment, and monitoring.
He told the Dewan Rakyat this morning that immediate and firm action would be taken against school administrators who hid such cases.
BODY OF NEWBORN DUMPED IN RUBBISH BIN
A Kuala Lumpur City Hall cleaner stumbled upon the body of a new-born baby girl, with her umbilical cord still intact, in a rubbish bin at the public housing flats in Bandar Tun Razak, yesterday.
Cheras police chief ACP Muhammad Idzam Jaafar said the body was found at 5.50pm.
To date, no arrests have been made. Those with information can contact investigators at 013-2165881, 03-21460584, 03-21460585, or the nearest police station.
HIGH COURT ORDERS HOME MINISTER TO REGISTER MUDA
The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that the Home Minister has 14 days to register the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) as a political party.
The ruling was made following a judicial review application by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and 12 others, against the Home Minister and the Registrar of Societies’ (RoS) decision to reject Muda’s registration.
Lawyer Lim Wei Jiet, who represented Syed Saddiq and 12 others, later revealed the decision to the press. He added that the court had ordered for the Home Minister and the RoS to pay RM10,000 in costs to Muda.
