Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad smiles during a press conference in Tokyo on May 30, 2019. – Malaysia will continue using Huawei products “as much as possible,” bucking a global trend prompted by security concerns and a US ban on the Chinese firm, the country’s prime minister said on May 30 at a conference in Tokyo. (Photo by Behrouz MEHRI / AFP)
In a shock revelation, Mahathir says he is not quitting in 2020
While reiterating his commitment to step down before the end of the five-year term as prime minister, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he does not want to make another mistake in his choice of PM.
“I have made many mistakes in appointing my successors, so I don’t want to make another mistake this time,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times (FT) on the sidelines of a regional trade conference in Bangkok.
“One is very nervous about just letting go of the country to successors.”
“I cannot say whether it is two years or three years, but I will certainly step down as I promised.
“Although there are lots of people who have been asking me to carry on until the next election, that is their view,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
FT asked Dr Mahathir whether he will quit in 2020 to hand over power to Anwar Ibrahim he replied, “No. There was no actual date or time mentioned. But the actual time that I will be there depends on the problems that we face.
“I’ve had some experience solving financial problems so they want me to solve the problems before I step down.”
Yet, he said Anwar will be the person to succeed him.-/TISG
