Malays won't accept Anwar due to liberal philosophy, says Dr M

The Malay community can not accept PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's leadership because of his liberal political ideology, claimed former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

According to Mahathir, this was evident when Anwar decided to align his party with the DAP.

“If we look back, when he left Umno when I was prime minister (in 1998), he tried to form a party (Parti Keadilan Nasional - which later became Parti Keadilan Rakyat) against me.

"Before this Ku Li (Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah) also left the party and started a new one - Parti Semangat 46.

"But that was also a party for the Malays. Anwar went out and started a liberal party (which was open to all races, religions and states), said Mahathir in an exclusive interview with Malay daily Sinar Harian yesterday.

Ironically, Anwar first started in politics as a firebrand who identified with Malay nationalism and Islamic politics, but his leadership of PKR makes him the only Malay leader leading a multi-racial party - as compared to Umno, PAS, Bersatu and Amanah which have a narrowed scope of membership.

"He wanted the support of DAP so he invited DAP (to join his coalition), even PAS joined. His philosophy is liberal," said Mahathir.

Anwar had also called for a transition from race-based affirmative action economic plans to one that is needs-based when he becomes the prime minister. 

This was intended to ensure that government aid reached the right sectors of society, but it was also portrayed as a threat to the special privileges of Malays.

Mahathir's Bersatu and Anwar's PKR had teamed up for GE14 to topple the former premier Najib Abdul Razak regime.

However, Mahathir's promise to hand over the post of prime minister to Anwar never materialised following internal rifts in both of their parties.

This led to the overthrow of the Pakatan Harapan government and saw Muhyiddin Yassin appointed as the eighth prime minister, with neither Mahathir nor Anwar able to provide proof of majority support from MPs at a crucial juncture. - Mkini