DAP backs Anwar so it can control him, says Mahathir

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has depicted DAP’s insistence on supporting opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as meaning that the party thinks it can control him.

Using former Perak menteri besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin as an example, he claimed the DAP used him as it has the majority of seats and the MB allowed the extension of the land lease there (at new villages) indefinitely from 99 years previously.

“The DAP’s insistence on supporting Anwar is merely to gain Malay support,” he said.

“Why not Abdul Hadi (Awang) PAS or the great Karpal Singh? He (Karpal) has fought for so long and maybe he should be the PM.”

Mahathir said the apparent move by PAS to have Hadi as PM shows that there is infighting among themselves (Pakatan Rakyat) even before they gain power.

The longest-serving prime minister was asked about the PAS Ulama wing proposal during the recent muktamar to have Abdul Hadi as PM.

However, Abdul Hadi was reported to have been coy about answering the call, saying Islamic teachings forbid him from seeking leadership positions.

“We see it as a position with heavy responsibilities... What is important is for us to take over Putrajaya first,” said the PAS president.

In another development, Anwar yesterday said it was not a problem for him if Abdul Hadi becomes PM.

Despite this, DAP’s secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was reported yesterday as insisting that Anwar becomes PM.

Mahathir was speaking to reporters after launching a fund to assist the people of Gaza who are suffering from attacks by the Israelis which had resulted in more than 100 civilian deaths.

[More to follow]