Bersatu sees red over Lim’s insistence on having Anwar as premier
KOTA BHARU: A Bersatu leader was seething red over DAP’s Lim Kit Siang claim that the latter would be willing to quit politics to ensure PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes the next prime minister.
“We can see that Mahathir is still capable and has his own vision of setting the country to recovery, so there is no need for other leaders to interfere by issuing such a statement,” said Bersatu vice president Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman.
“Moreover Dr Mahathir had often said that when the time comes, he will step down and I am confident he will do so, but for now, as long as he is still capable and as long as he has the support of the people, he will continue to be the prime minister,” he said.
He said this to reporters after presenting tithes to 311 recipients at a zakat presentation ceremony organised by Kota Bharu Bersatu Economic Bureau and Koperasi Wawasan Malaysia Berhad (Kowamas) today.
Yesterday Lim who is also Iskandar Puteri MP dared Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan to quit politics if the transition of power as prime minister from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Anwar takes place.
“If Mahathir does not pass the Prime Minister’s post to Anwar and instead dissolve Parliament to call for early 15th general elections, I will retire from politics and will not contest in the 15th general election,” said Lim during a ceramah last night.
He said this in reaction to Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, better known as Tok Mat, who remarked that Mahathir would not hand over the premiership as promised to Anwar.
On that note Lim dared Mohamad,better known as Tok Mat, to withdraw from politics altogether if Mahathir kept his word.
“I have more confidence in Mahathir and I am prepared to have a wager with Mohamad that Mahathir will honour the Pakatan Harapan commitment to pass the Prime Minister’s post to Anwar,” he said.
“If Mahathir keeps to his word and passes the Prime Minister’s post to Anwar, then Mohamad will withdraw from politics and will not contest in the 15th general election,” he added.
Tok Mat has declined to take on the bet on the grounds that he is a practising Muslim.
