KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has “shot himself in the foot” by claiming that jailed former opposition leader and once bitter foe Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is a victim of a political vendetta.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said pointed out that Anwar was sacked from his post as deputy prime minister and subsequently jailed during Dr Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister.
“Anwar is undergoing a prison sentence because of his personal case, which was prosecuted under Section 377B of the Penal Code. So, there should be no question about Anwar being the victim of a political vendetta as alleged.
“Anwar has gone through all the processes under the law to defend himself, including filing an appeal to the Pardons Board,” she said in a statement today.
Azalina said Dr Mahathir’s claim that the court’s decision against Anwar was “influenced by the government” was tantamount to questioning the freedom and integrity of the judiciary.
“This is also an insult to the country’s judicial and democratic systems,” said Azazlina, who is also an Umno supreme council member.
She said Dr Mahathir’s frequent U-turns reflected the opposition’s willingness to sacrifice its principles for the sake of personal gain.
She was responding to a Dr Mahathir’s recent interview with The Guardian newspaper in London, in which he said he had no objection towards Anwar becoming prime minister should Pakatan Harapan win the next general election.
He had also said Anwar should be released from jail, where he is serving a five-year sentence for sodomy, and allowed to contest in the next polls as he was a victim of a political vendetta.
“In the case of Anwar, we can make a case that he was unfairly treated. The decision of the court was obviously influenced by the government and I think the incoming government would be able to persuade the king to give a full pardon for Anwar,” Dr Mahathir told The Guardian.
“In which case, he would be able to participate in politics and become PM. I can have no objection to that.”
Anwar, 69, was once Dr Mahathir’s deputy and close ally but both leaders engaged a bitter dispute in the late 1990s.
After being sacked from the government, Anwar was jailed for the first time after he was convicted of sodomy and corruption.
He was convicted of sodomy for a second time and jailed in 2014. The conviction bars him from political office and contesting in the 14th General Election, which must be held by next year.
He can, however, receive a royal pardon and be allowed to contest.
After 18 years of animosity, both Anwar and Dr Mahathir buried the hatchet and joined forces under the Pakatan Harapan opposition pact. Dr Mahathir’s new party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, recently became the fourth member of the coalition.
Dr Mahathir last month said he “may be forced to consider” becoming prime minister again if such a plan was proposed by his friends in the opposition.
This prompted a rebuke from Anwar, who said no individual had the right to unilaterally decide who should be the pact's choice for prime minister. Anwar, however, had earlier said he would not be a candidate for prime minister in the upcoming GE14.