BAYAN LEPAS: Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has put the blame on former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the coalition's failures during its 22-month rule.
During a get-together at Bukit Belah MPKK Hall in Sungai Batu here, the PKR president said he was not at the helm during PH's reign.
"We were given the chance to rule for 22 months but I was not leading the charge then. Who was the prime minister at that time?" he asked the crowd, which answered Dr Mahathir.
Anwar said the premiership then changed hands from Dr Mahathir to Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin and finally to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said it was worse during Muhyiddin's tenure, as the longest Movement Control Order (MCO) was introduced.
Anwar added that during Ismail Sabri's rule, he only increased the number of ministers.
"The prime minister failed to handle the Covid-19 pandemic. We recorded a death rate of about 36 per cent, and we have the longest MCO in the world.
"The people's life became increasingly difficult. The prices of goods increased, but not the salaries. Being a government is not only about who the prime minister is. It is about the people.
"When things go wrong, who did they blame? Anwar and DAP, whom they likened to communists."
Anwar stressed on the importance of good governance, failing which the country would continue to fall.
"We need to bring Malaysia back as an economic giant, something that I can do due to my vast contacts with the outside world.
"It is not that I am really want to be the prime minister, but the people are in need of good governance."
PH has named Anwar as its prime ministerial candidate should the coalition win the 15th General Election.