Mahathir will ensure Anwar's defeat in by-election, Lokman claims

PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim's ambitions to become the next prime minister will be dashed by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who will ensure his defeat in a by-election, Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam claimed today.

"I am sure Mahathir will help to place a candidate (against Anwar in a by-election).

"This is for sure. Because Mahathir will go all out to ensure Anwar doesn't become prime minister," Lokman said at a press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre.

He did not elaborate on why this was the case.

He was commenting on speculation that a by-election would be triggered for Anwar soon.

Lokman said either BN or their ally PAS would likely contest against the PKR top leader.

If Mahathir’s purported efforts to prevent Anwar from winning the by-election fails, then this would mean the start of Pakatan Harapan’s downfall, Lokman claimed.

"If Mahathir cannot stop Anwar from becoming prime minister, then the moment Anwar (photo) is sworn in as a Member of Parliament, that is the end for Harapan.

"Because, if Mahathir cannot remain as prime minister or put one of his children as prime minister, I am sure he will dissolve (Parliament)," Lokman further alleged. 

Previously, Home Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had said there was no issue of a power struggle between Anwar and Mahathir.

Lokman said he also believes that Anwar would lose in the coming by-election, even if it is at his stronghold in Permatang Pauh, based on two factors.

Firstly, he claimed, the rakyat would reject Harapan because of unfulfilled promises from their election manifesto after the first 100 days in power, as well as their accusations against BN leadership.

"Some say he is contesting in Pandan, some say in Selayang, some say Sungai Petani and there are those who say Nibong Tebal, but all that does not matter to us.

“For us, even if he contests in Permatang Pauh, he would surely lose.

“Because you have to remember, if PAS and Umno combined their votes, Nurul Izzah Anwar only won by 1,200 votes, and that is with all the accusations against Najib supposedly stealing RM2.6 billion, on which until today there have been no charges,” he said.

Lokman said this would only become worse after the rakyat see that the new government has failed to fulfil its election promises.

“After 120 days of Harapan in power, there have been no charges and this situation is like getting tricked.

“Sixty promises to be fulfilled in five years. They can’t even fulfil 10 promises in 100 days. Only one was fulfilled, and that was after Sept 1, which is the abolition of GST,” Lokman said. - Mkini