KUCHING, Dec 16: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dispelled rumours of a rift between him and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In a statement, the Port Dickson MP pledged that he would continue to support Dr Mahathir’s efforts and leadership and would continue to work with the latter to realise the reformative agenda as promised.
Anwar said he was fully aware of the perceptions and assumptions brought about by recent political developments, where many MPs resigned from Umno.
“These parties intend to create suspicion and misunderstanding between Tun Mahathir and I with the intention to ruin our good relationship.
“Pakatan Harapan has been given the mandate to induce a change in government that denies corruption, arrogance and racist intimidation.
“Our focus now is to drive development and ease the burden of the people, especially the lower income group,” said Anwar.
The Star Online had earlier published a commentary that argued the recent mass resignation that crippled Umno was the result of a proxy war between Dr Mahathir and Anwar for premiership, where during the Parliament session in March next year, PKR and Umno MPs would team up to unseat Dr Mahathir as the prime minister.
Citing Umno supreme council member Datuk Alwi Che Ahmad, the writer said there was a split within Umno itself, where one group headed by Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin is supportive of Dr Mahathir to be the prime minister, while another group headed by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamid and Datuk Nazri Aziz backed Anwar.
Those supporting Anwar were promised that there would be no more witch hunting and that Umno would be protected from de-registration.
The report said Hamzah had the support of Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who had gathered the support of 38 Umno MPs who had signed statutory declarations to support Dr Mahathir should there be an attempt to bring about a no-confidence vote against Dr Mahathir.
Meanwhile, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was rumoured to be with Hishammuddin at the gathering of Umno MPs in the latter’s house recently. — DayakDaily
