Political crisis in Malaysia: Mahathir and Anwar vie for power

Text by: RFI Follow

Prime Minister resigning Malaysian Mahathir Mohamad proposed this Wednesday, February 26, to form a unity government, during his first speech since the surprise announcement of his departure which plunged the country into political uncertainty. For his part, Anwar Ibrahim, who was to succeed him, said he was ready to govern.

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This statement by Mahathir Mohamad comes against a background of maneuvers in the political staffs. Parliamentarians from the ruling coalition and the opposition have tried to form a government to prevent the coming to power of Anwar Ibrahim, the appointed successor to Mahathir.

" Partisan politics must be put aside for the time being ," the interim Prime Minister, who resigned to the King of Malaysia on Monday after the failed attempt, said in a televised speech to the Nation. If I am allowed, I will try to form an inclusive government that does not take a stand for any political party . "

Allies then enemies ...

Mahathir Mohamad, 94, considered by some to be the founding father of modern Malaysia, returned to power in 2018 fifteen years after leaving it. A return due to the victory of the Pact of Hope, a coalition that included many of its former opponents including Anwar Ibrahim, his ex-right-hand man until the 1990s, who became his sworn enemy.

The stormy relations between Anwar and Mahathir have dominated political life in Malaysia for more than twenty years. But the two men had teamed up to overthrow ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2018, entangled in a huge embezzlement scandal.

Mahathir, who had already ruled the country from 1981 to 2003, then pledged to give way in two years to Anwar. The latter, at the time imprisoned for sodomy - a political condemnation according to his supporters -, was immediately pardoned by the king and released.

This Wednesday, Anwar for his part showed his determination to govern. He said he had received the support of the parliamentarians of three formations members of the Pact of Hope, so that he would be the next Prime Minister of Malaysia.

( With AFP )

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