KUALA LUMPUR: In wanting to "save the country", Pakatan Harapan (PH) had chosen the man responsible for "destroying" it in the first place, Pas Research Centre officer Syed Ahmad Fadhli said.
He said it was unfortunate that the opposition pact had to pick Dr Mahathir as the PM candidate, in its effort to so-called ‘rebuild’ this country.
“PH during its convention on Sunday has created a new history by announcing Malaysia's seventh and eighth prime minister candidates at once.
“They wanted to appoint Dr Mahathir, who had been in power for 22 years, as the seventh prime minister.
“Have they not learned anything?” he said in a statement.
Syed Ahmad was commenting on the recent PH's appointment of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister-designate and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as his deputy.
He also questioned PH's announcement of 13 major reforms the coalition said it would implement once it comes to power.
“Among the interesting points were; to limit the prime minister's term, to ensure key positions such as the Attorney-General, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Armed Forces chief and others to be free from political influence, to free Malaysia from corruption and to respect the Constitution and uphold the rule of law.”
Syed Ahmad argued that in terms of limiting the PM's term, PH should asked themselves why did they picked Dr Mahathir, the man who was on the helm the longest, for five terms.
“(As for political influence), Why was it that during Dr Mahathir's time, there were cases like the dismissal of Chief Justice, VK Lingam's video of a judge-fixing scandal and former IGP Tan Sri Rahim Noor in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's 'black-eye' incident?
“Were the Constitution's dignity and the rule of law being upheld and why was the media being controlled under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 then?”
On top of that, he wondered if PH had forgotten that hundreds of opposition leaders had been detained under the Internal Security Act during the former PM's tenure.
As for Anwar, Syed Ahmad said PH appeared to be trying to force the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant a royal pardon, to ensure that Anwar can be active in politics again and subsequently made the eighth prime minister.
“Does PH think that the prime minister’s post is a baton?”
Unlike PH, he said Pas' struggle is different, pointing out apart from individual change, the party also want the administrative policy to be molded according to Islam.
“Pas’ struggle is not to make A and B as the prime minister and deputy prime minister. As leaders, we believe one must prove that he is worthy and able to do the job. It should not be based on popularity.”