Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he will respect the Pakatan Harapan plans for him to step down in two years.
The question was raised by a guest at an event who said the people are getting worried about history repeating itself.
“I am confident that he (Anwar) is now more mature and much experienced,” he said.
He said this at a gathering with Malaysians residing in Brunei at a hotel yesterday.
Dr Mahathir fired Anwar Ibrahim, then deputy PM and Minister of Finance, in 1998 which led the latter to launch the reformasi movement.
The PH supporters are jittery over a repeat of the 1998 scenario, though Anwar is not an MP and is not in the cabinet this time around.
But PH has plans to put Anwar Ibrahim back in Parliament even though many from within the PH (particularly among the Bersatu and Warisan component parties) does not want Anwar in Parliament.
Facebook users hailing from the Bersatu (Dr Mahathir’s party) are openly campaigning against Anwar, accusing him of greed and a problem stirrer.
They are saying he should be more patient before seeking to contest for a seat in the Parliament.
But Dr Mahathir’s answer that he will respect the PH agenda and will step down by 2020 could temporarily cool the fears of most of the PH supporters.
Dr Mahathir said PH is made up of Bersatu, DAP, PKR and Amanah. Dr Mahathir is Bersatu chairman while Anwar is president elect of PKR.
To another question, Dr Mahathir reminded the crowd that much was done to oust the previous regime of Najib Razak.
He said the opposition held demonstrations, attempted to move a no-confidence motion (in Parliament) against Najib, lodged police reports and in fact came up with a People’s Declaration rejecting the leadership of the (previous) government, but all to no avail.
“Until the people made their stand known through the ballot box,” he said, adding they could do likewise if they were dissatisfied with his successor (through the ballot box).
