PETALING JAYA: Selangor Perikatan Nasional chief Azmin Ali said although Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is a good orator, he lacks substance.
“For me, substance-wise, he is too shallow,” Azmin, who was previously Anwar’s deputy in PKR, said tonight at the Keluar Sekejap podcast hosted by former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin.
Azmin said Anwar’s “shortcomings” meant that a team was needed to help him.
The former senior minister said this when asked to comment on claims that he was the man behind the scenes who had helped Anwar when the latter was part of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration and also when PKR was formed.
Anwar held several portfolios, including that of finance minister, during Mahathir’s first stint as prime minister.
Azmin admitted that he was known as the “gatekeeper” back then.
He claimed Anwar was unlike Mahathir, who was very detailed and meticulous. Mahathir even micromanaged the construction of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and looked into the quality of the floor and roof of the airport, Azmin added.
“But Anwar (looks at matters) on the surface level. He lacks understanding in many matters.”
However, Azmin said both Anwar and Mahathir had their own strengths.
He also revealed that his fallout with Anwar stemmed from the party polls in 2018 and not over the Kajang Move, which led to the ouster of then Selangor menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim.
Azmin said he had informed Anwar that he wanted to contest for the presidency but that he was willing to remain as the party’s deputy president if Anwar wanted to go for the top post.
However, Azmin claimed Anwar later decided to campaign for his challenger for the deputy presidency.
“It was then that I felt I could not trust him.”
When asked why Anwar did not trust him at that point in time, Azmin said it was because Anwar could not see him (Azmin) being more successful than him.
“He still sees me only as his political secretary.” - FMT
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