KUALA LUMPUR: Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad finally admitted yesterday that his one-time nemesis, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is indeed one of Pakatan Harapan’s candidates for prime minister.
Tun Mahathir’s admission came when he was pressed by journalists today on his refusal to brandish a placard endorsing Anwar as the 7th prime minister during PKR’s National Congress last week.
The longest-serving prime minister was responding to a survey conducted by PKR-linked NGO Invoke which found Anwar to be the most popular choice for prime minister among opposition supporters.
In spite of his admission, Tun Mahathir stressed that Pakatan Harapan must first win the 14th general election (GE14) before deciding on the prime ministerial candidate.
"(Anwar) is one of the candidates.
"But if we don't win, no one (from the opposition) can become the prime minister. What's important is to win.
"Anyone can be a (prime ministerial) candidate," Tun Mahathir said in a video clip uploaded by news portal Kini TV, after a ceramah by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) here last night.
Asked further whether Pakatan Harapan’s list of prime ministerial candidates would be publicised before the election, Tun Mahathir reiterated that they should do so only after the opposition pact wins the GE14.
"If we don't win and name the candidate, it's like ‘syiok sendiri’ (self-indulgent)," he said.
Pakatan Harapan has found itself in a dilemma over who to name as prime minister should it manage to capture Putrajaya.
During the congress on Sunday, leaders from PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara raised placards which named Anwar as "the seventh prime minister".
Tun Mahathir was instead seen taking pictures or videos of the event, while PPBM President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was applauding.