PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said that it is Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s right to contest in the Port Dickson parliamentary seat.
Dr. Mahathir said, the PKR-president elect has rang him up from Hong Kong to inform about the contest before it was announced publicly.
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“I have no opinion on him contesting. I do not interfere in that area. But I told him (Anwar) that I do not go on any campaigns for by-election but I will endorse his candidacy,” Dr. Mahathir said in a press conference here on Friday (Sept.14).
Earlier on Thursday, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Port Dickson, Danyal Balagopal Abdullah resigned with immediate effect to give way to Anwar Ibrahim to return to the Parliament.
Asked whether Anwar will be given any post in the government if he wins, Dr. Mahathir said the PKR-president elect is not seeking any post as mentioned in a statement by PKR Secretary-General Datuk Saifudin Nasution recently.
Regarding his age being 93 and how long he will be the Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir said, Anwar will be his successor and he is not “changing” his promise.
Dr. Mahathir added, even though the period of his premiership is not certain but he is conscious that by two years time he will be 95 and today he is still in good health.
On opinions that UMNO will collaborate with PKR to join the government, Dr. Mahathir said, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) will not accept any party but individual to be a member of any party in the pact is permitted.
Asked about Ringgit Malaysia’ depreciation, Dr. Mahathir said: “It is not only Malaysian Ringgit is depreciating but other countries’ currencies are also experiencing it and Turkey is no exemption while Argentina’s currency drops by 50 percent.
“The currency depreciation is due to the trade war between United States of America and China and also the poor economic performance of countries in the world,” he said. – Malaysia World News
