Pakatan leaders return fire at DPM over Azmin remark on Dr M

Muhyiddin - accused of insincerity

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Pakatan Rakyat leaders returned fire at Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for trying to badmouth PKR vice president Azmin Ali for calling former premier Mahathir Mohamad a “fallen leader”.

They accused the DPM of insincerity and of trying gain mileage from Mahathir's recent illness.

“I think it is not fair for Muhyiddin to take advantage of the situation to create political mileage for himself. This is a time when we would pray for another person's well-being but it doesn’t mean that we suddenly create a hero," PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar told Malaysia Chronicle.

"I also remember recently a lot of people criticized Mahathir over Perkasa. I think Nazri Aziz even called Dr Mahathir a has-been. But I didn’t hear Muhyiddin’ voice then. Is that because Najib was in the country at that time but is now overseas? I would sincerely advise Muhyiddin to be more sincere."

Vital for DPM to stay in Dr M's good books

PKR's Azmin Ali

At his Gombak annual general meeting on Sunday, Azmin had slammed ultra-Malay rights group Perkasa, of which Mahathir is the patron. The PKR leader had said that he would fight against Perkasa and the "individuals behind the organisation”.

"The DPM's reaction is expected because he is gathering support from among the radicals in Umno whose leader is Dr Mahathir and his son Mukhriz. Together with Perkasa, they are only interested in undermining Prime Minister Najib Razak's 1Malaysia plan," PKR vice president Lee Boon Chye toldMalaysia Chronicle.

Mahathir

"Already we can see Muhyiddin paving his way for the Umno 2011 election. It is obvious he will challenge Najib for the presidency. So ths is why he must ensure that he stays in Mahathir's good books. He needs Dr M's support if he is to beat Najib."

Muhyddin had slammed Azmin for being insensitive because Mahathir had fallen ill in Australia, where he had been warded over the weekend for a chest infection.

"When Mahathir is unwell and is admitted to hospital, all Malaysians are praying for his speedy recovery and his return home to serve the country in his capacity as a former prime minister," Bernama quoted Muhyiddin as saying.

"So the statement was uncalled for because we have mutual respect for each other. I don't know if this is the style of leadership in the PKR."