Global Courant
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s two-time Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Thursday that he does not mind cooperating with former enemy and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Muhyiddin Yassin in the interests of the Malays.
Tun Dr Mahathir said he will join hands with Muhyiddin if mutual targets across the country’s ethnic majority can be agreed upon.
“We want to work together, but the end goals must be defined. We have been split into many parties and we have lost power. If we lose power, we cannot correct the conditions that are harmful to Malaysians,” he told MalaysiaNow news outlet.
Dr. Mahathir said the main aim from his point of view is to defend the Malaysian cause and denounce those involved in corruption and criminal misconduct.
“That is why we must unite. But who is there for unity? Not those who are involved in corruption or who have been sentenced to prison terms. Malaysian voters reflect on the issues they face. They want someone who cares about their plight and can do something to solve their problems,” the former prime minister said.
Together with Muhyiddin, Dr. Mahathir founded Bersatu in 2016, which became part of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition that came to power in 2018. But dr. PH coalition, unwillingly cooperated with Umno and installed Muhyiddin as Prime Minister.
Dr. Mahathir declares willingness to cooperate with Muhyiddin after Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) president Abdul Hadi Awang said in May that he met the 97-year-old to talk about strengthening unity among Malays. Several PAS leaders have also signed the Malaysian Proclamation – a 12-point document written by Dr Mahathir on the issues faced by Malays.
Ahmad Faizal Azumu, deputy president of Bersatu, told The Straits Times that Dr.
“There are two priorities the party is focusing on. One is the state elections and the other is standing up for the Malays, as the Malays may feel threatened by the China-based Democratic Action Party, a key ally of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government,” he said.
Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah are expected to conduct their state polls in July.
The proposal for the two former prime ministers to work together also comes as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating a former minister who was under Dr. documents that exposed a web of tax havens, shell companies and offshore accounts that hide the true ownership of billions of dollars in assets.
Muhyiddin was charged separately in March with multiple counts of money laundering and bribery, as well as four counts of abuse of power.
Joining forces will help both former prime ministers and Tan Sri Abdul Hadi, political analysts said.
It would benefit Dr. Mahathir as his allies are being questioned by the MACC for alleged wrongdoings during his first stint as Prime Minister from 1981 to 2003, said Mr. Halmie Azrie Abdul Halim, senior analyst at Vriens and Partners.
“Dr. Mahathir still has much to protect and seems willing to allocate resources and reconcile with Muhyiddin, whose party accounts are currently frozen, as well as Mr. Hadi Awang to bypass Anwar’s premiership. If Muhyiddin and his opposition alliance Perikatan Nasional perform, the Islamic party PAS will gain the most by securing its hold on the north and east coasts and increasing seats in the Klang Valley,” he told ST, referring to the upcoming elections.
