KUALA LUMPUR: PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says his family supports Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's leadership as prime minister, on the heels of stinging comments by daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar against the country's top leader.
Anwar, who had been touted as the next prime minister, said Dr Mahathir's move to oust the previous government and saved the country from "robbery" was his biggest contribution to the nation.
"My family and I will give our utmost support to Dr Mahathir's leadership.
"No, he is not (a dictator). That is our consistent stand. We support him as the prime minister," said the Port Dickson federal lawmaker when met at the Parliament lobby today.
Izzah, in an interview with the Straits Times, had said she was having a hard time working with Dr Mahathir, whom she labelled as "a former dictator who had wreaked so much damage."
Her comments drew veiled brickbats from her colleagues, as well as criticisms by Dr Mahathir's loyalists.
For instance, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had apparently labelled Izzah as a "crybaby" in a tweet, while the prime minister’s political secretary Abu Bakar Yahya said Nurul Izzah was "immature, irrational, and emotional" in comprehending the stand of Dr Mahathir and the government.
Anwar however, defended Izzah' comments and said the issue was magnified by the Straits Times.
"The statement was made for quite some time and reported by the Singapore's Straits Times. That is a one time statement. I understand the context and that the statement was blown out by the Singapore's Straits Times. There is nothing to argue about.
"I, of course, understand and am concerned (about the matter). However it is not an absolute reference to Dr Mahathir, but there are skewed voices that continue to lob such attacks (to the ruling party).
"But I believe that our focus is on the economy. Secondly, we in PH have time and again call for space and chance to be given to Dr Mahathir (to lead the country).
"It does not mean that we cannot have differences in opinions. Some people think that the current government is the same as the one headed by Umno back then. No."
On Abu Bakar's statement, Anwar said: "That's okay. That is his views on the matter. This is also a reminder for everyone to continue adhering to the consensus we had reached."
"I hope with this explanation, things will be better. Each of us has a huge task to do, the economy for example. Do not have to be preoccupied on this."