DAP’S CHIN TONG DROPS BOMBSHELL – ‘NO WRITTEN 2-YEAR DEADLINE BUT IT WAS VERY CLEAR THERE WILL BE A TRANSITION. AS LONG AS MAHATHIR & ANWAR ARE CLEAR, TRANSITION WILL HAPPEN’: BUT WHAT IF THEY ARE NOT – AND POWER-GRABBERS ON THE SIDELINES STIR FIRE – WHO LOSES MOST BUT DESTABILIZED MALAYSIA?

THERE is no two-year agreement and the handover of power is between Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim, with the seventh prime minister knowing when to give way, said Liew Chin Tong.

“In all written statements (last year), there was no two-year deadline although it was very clear that there will be a transition.

“There were a lot of different formulas and timelines in private discussions but what is clear is that Dr Mahathir is very committed,” said Liew during an interview at the Defence Ministry last Friday.

He said that Dr Mahathir had promised to hand power over to Anwar and the latter had also promised not to raise the issue of timelines.

“Once the nation stabilises, Dr Mahathir knows it’s time to exit and have a permanent legacy.”  

He said both men have been given a rare opportunity in history to mend their rift and heal the country’s wounds at the same time.

“As long as Anwar and Dr Mahathir are clear, the transition will happen,” said the deputy defence minister, when asked about the demands from Bersatu and PKR on the transition.

During last week’s AGM, some Bersatu delegates had suggested for Dr Mahathir to stay as prime minister for a full term while several PKR leaders have questioned the two-year timeline.

While there was no formal agreement on when Dr Mahathir will hand over to Anwar, it has been suggested by several Pakatan leaders that the transition should take place in 2020.

“When I began political activism in 1998, fighting for Anwar and protesting Dr Mahathir, we never expected it will come to this stage.

“This is a rare opportunity. It’s not about them alone as it is also about the country and our generation who spent 20 years to defeat BN. They know it’s not for themselves and a chance for them to heal the country,” said Liew, who started his political activism in 1998.

Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong says Dr Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim have learned to work together again and have realised that they are both not as bad as each have thought before. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, January 5, 2019.

He said the past year has also shown both men that they needed each other and were not as bad as they thought.

“The end result (working together) has told Dr Mahathir that Anwar is not bad. And it has told Anwar that Dr Mahathir also has noble goals for the country. Both are aware this is a rare opportunity,” said Liew.

Earlier this week, PH secretary-general Saifuddin Abdullah said there is no formal agreement for Dr Mahathir to hand over the reins to Anwar in two years.

However, the prime minister has repeatedly said he will stick to the succession plan, and Anwar has said there is no reason for him not to believe Dr Mahathir.

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com