Political analyst Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk says Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should stop pointing the finger at former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for all the problems affecting the country.
Azeem said the two politicians have been at each other’s throats since 1998 and need to move on from the past, as their feud is damaging Malaysia’s reputation.
Earlier this month, a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) examined the handling of sovereignty issues concerning Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge. It found that Dr Mahathir may have acted unilaterally in deciding not to file applications to review the 2008 International Court of Justice’s ruling on Batu Puteh.
The RCI said there were elements of treason in the decision – vehemently denied by Dr Mahathir – who insisted it was a collective decision made by his then-Cabinet.
Last week, Anwar claimed that several court cases following the 2018 General Election were flawed, as they were “rushed”, and “with such venom and enmity”, ignoring the fact that it was his coalition, Pakatan Harapan, that was in power, and that Anwar’s wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, was then Dr Mahathir’s deputy.
On Dec 19, the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor a full acquittal in her RM7.1 million money laundering and tax evasion case. Rosmah is the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was implicated in the 1MDB and SRC scandals.
This came after the court allowed Rosmah’s application to strike out all 17 charges she faced in this case. High Court judge K. Muniandy ruled that the charges were “bad in law”.
“In both cases – the RCI and Rosmah – is Anwar saying that the then-Cabinet was incompetent, and that one person made those decisions?” asked Azeem.
“If that is the case, he must ask questions about the ministers in the Cabinet, including his wife, and several others who are now in his (Anwar’s) Cabinet.”
“Did they agree with the prosecution against Rosmah, or is he pointing the finger only at Dr Mahathir alone?”
Azeem argued that Anwar’s comments seemed to undermine the integrity of the Attorney-General’s Chambers after Rosmah was acquitted of the money laundering and tax evasion charges.
“Perhaps, Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, who was the Attorney-General in 2018, should offer his reasoning for going ahead with the case,” said Azeem.
“The prosecution has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal, seeking to reverse Rosmah’s acquittal. Anwar, as the prime minister, has no authority in the case. Let the courts decide.”
As for the RCI’s decision, Azeem said it was a case of “he said-she said,” as Dr Mahathir claimed the decision was discussed during a Cabinet meeting.
Dr Wan Azizah, former defence minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, and Transport Minister Anthony Loke, in a joint statement, claimed that Dr Mahathir made the decision not to proceed with the review and interpretation regarding the Pulau Batu Puteh issue in writing to the Attorney-General without consulting the Cabinet.
“The feud between these two politicians has gone on for 26 years. It’s time we wrap it up and look forward,” said Azeem.
“There is no point in pointing fingers. Malaysia’s political system follows that of Westminster, so everything has to be a collective decision.
“If a Cabinet minister disagrees, they must resign, or at least make their objections clear. Neither was done at that time.”
