Ibrahim Ali slams PH for nominating a convict as PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) decision to nominate its de facto leader who is now in jail, Anwar Ibrahim, as the candidate for prime minister if the coalition wins the 14th general election is a very shameful act, says veteran politician Ibrahim Ali.

The former MP for Pasir Mas said it was as though the opposition ignored the law and the country’s constitution and the sovereignty of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong when they made such a decision and expressed confidence that he would be given a royal pardon.

Ibrahim said it was really an insult to him that the opposition would nominate a former convict as prime minister.

“In Malaysia, it is unusual that a convict who has not been released from prison is named as (candidate for) prime minister. Malaysia Boleh,” he told a media conference, here today.

On Sunday, the DAP, PKR, PPBM and Amanah said they would seek a royal pardon for Anwar if they win the election.

The move is to enable Anwar, who will be released on June 8, to immediately play a role in the federal government and later be made the prime minister.

Article 48 of the Federal Constitution states that a person will lose his right to contest in the general election if he is convicted in court and jailed for not less than one year or fined not less than RM2,000 and does not get a pardon.

Commenting further, Ibrahim said he found PH’s choice of candidates “strange and it was as if the pact had no other choice”.

Eventually, three family members are in government, Anwar, his wife and his daughter in the cabinet. So Malaysia belongs to Anwar Ibrahim, as though there are no other leaders who are capable and have integrity,” he said, adding that his statement was not personal, and that he was only stating a fact.

Ibrahim, who is also Perkasa president, said if PH ruled the country, they could do anything they wanted.

He also questioned the announcement that Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be PH’s interim prime minister for about six to 12 months.

He said this was too short a period to administer the country. -FMT