Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s son, Mukhriz, has taken aim at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for branding his father a corrupt leader.
In a blistering broadside, the Pejuang president delivered a barrage of rhetorical questions laced with irony and pointedly answered in the negative to dismantle the alleged smear campaign against his father.
In a Facebook post, Mukhriz rewound the political clock to 2016, when Mahathir and Anwar - once bitter rivals - clasped hands in a dramatic show of unity to bring down then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
He recalled their symbolic reunion at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, where Anwar was challenging the controversial National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016.
Anwar’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, tweeted it was the first time the two men had come face to face since Sept 2, 1998 - the day Mahathir sacked Anwar amidst explosive allegations of sexual misconduct.
“When Tun Mahathir shook hands with Anwar during Anwar’s court trial, did Anwar brush off his hand because he was corrupt? No,” said Mukhriz.
“When Tun M brought Bersatu into Pakatan Harapan, did Harapan reject him because he was corrupt? No.
“When Harapan chose Tun M to lead the coalition in GE14 as chairperson and the prime minister candidate, did Anwar and Harapan consider him corrupt? No,” he added.
Reminders
Mukhriz then asked whether the legitimacy of his father’s leadership in 2018 was ever questioned, especially after the historic toppling of BN’s six-decade rule.
“When Tun M was sworn in as prime minister, did Anwar and Harapan change their PM candidate because Tun M was corrupt? No.
“When Tun M appointed Harapan component leaders to cabinet posts, did they reject the appointments because Tun M was corrupt? No.
“When Tun M signed the letter seeking Anwar’s royal pardon and release from prison, did Anwar and Harapan reject the pardon because Tun M was corrupt? No,” he added.
Mukhriz also reminded the public that Anwar had no issue accepting support from Mahathir and the late Daim Zainuddin during the 2018 Port Dickson by-election.
While acknowledging that Anwar has long hurled corruption accusations against Mahathir - dating back over two decades - Mukhriz underscored the absence of evidence and Anwar’s claim that the government is concealing it.
“For 25 years, Anwar consistently hurled accusations without proof, yet his party lost every election. Only when Tun M and Bersatu joined and led Harapan did BN finally fall. Did Anwar and Harapan reject this victory on principle, claiming their struggle had been tainted by Tun M’s alleged corruption? No.
“And throughout all that Tun M did to help Anwar and Harapan, not once was the issue of ‘Tun M is corrupt’ or ‘abused power to enrich his children’ ever raised,” he said.
Recycled allegations
Now, Mukhriz added, those allegations are being recycled.
“Where’s the evidence? There is none. Anwar and Harapan are no longer the opposition. Anwar is now the prime minister, and Harapan and BN are the government. Still, no evidence has surfaced? Is the Madani government hiding the evidence?” he asked.
According to Mukhriz, Anwar is not interested in facts but optics.
“So, he continues hurling baseless accusations in his speeches and media interviews solely to humiliate Tun Mahathir and his family. But he’s gravely mistaken. The people are too smart and not easily fooled by Anwar’s slander,” he warned.
Mukhriz also challenged Anwar’s credibility as an anti-graft crusader by pointing to his appointment of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as deputy prime minister.
He also took aim at Anwar’s own inner circle - highlighting former political aide Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, whose wealth and business dealings have come under scrutiny, and the controversial appointment of Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah as a senior adviser.
“Enough with the tactics to distract the people from the real issue - the worsening state of the economy under your administration. No one believes you anymore, Anwar. Just step down,” he declared. - Mkini
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