‘I DON’T KNOW ABOUT THAT, I’M HEARING THIS ONLY FROM YOU’: MAHATHIR DENIES VICIOUS CLAIMS SPREAD BY HIS OWN SUPPORTERS THAT HE HAD DECLINED TO MAKE RAFIZI FINANCE MINISTER – WHILE AZIZAH DIDN’T WANT GUAN ENG TO GET THE COVETED POST

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had raised concern over the welfare and rights of the Malays.

He expressed this, among other issues in a meeting with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently.

“He (Anwar) feels that we are not giving attention to the welfare of the Malays,” Dr Mahathir said, adding that the issue of rights involving the Malays was also mentioned.

Asked if Anwar had criticised the government’s policy on the welfare and rights of Malays, Dr Mahathir said no.

The Prime Minister said Anwar only “made some remarks about it”.

Dr Mahathir, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, also denied rumours that Anwar had expressed his intention to stand in a by-election as soon as possible.

“He didn’t say anything about contesting.

“He just came and saw me, and we had some discussions,” Dr Mahathir said.

It was reported that a number PKR Member’s of Parliament were willing to give up their seat for the incoming PKR president to contest.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir denied knowledge over political blogger Hishammuddin Rais’ claim that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail disagreed over DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s appointment as Finance Minister.

Wan Azizah, claimed Hishammuddin, wanted PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli to be the Finance Minister despite not contesting in the 14th General Election.

“I don’t know about that. I’m hearing this only from you,” he said.

Dr Mahathir spoke to media members today after a lunch and roundtable discussion with country chairs of the Asean Business Advisory Council.

NST