DR M: I'm Happy to Campaign for Anwar

PORT DICKSON, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who came here to campaign for Anwar Ibrahim Monday night, said that he will not let the past affect the harmonious relationship among the component parties in Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the future of the country. The prime minister, who shared the campaign stage with Anwar for the first time in 20 years, also admitted that he was happy to campaign for the PKR de facto leader, who is also PH candidate for the Port Dickson parliamentary by-election. “Yes, the relationship between Anwar and I was not so good before, but do not forget that he entered UMNO because of me and he became a federal minister also because of me. “If I want to delve into the past, or if Anwar wants to delve into the things that had happened to him, I don’t think we can get together,” he said at the ‘Mahathir-Anwar Gandingan Mantap Harapan Malaysia’ mega talk at the PD Waterfront here. The PH chairman said if old wounds continued to be reopened, it would be very difficult for them to work together and achieve the bigger goals for the country.  Dr Mahathir said to topple the government which oppressed the people, he and all PH leaders were willing to put aside their personal differences to save the country.           “If we want to win, we have to work together, talk and be sincere and for these, we cannot think of returning to our old hostilities,” he stressed.             Meanwhile Anwar Ibrahim described Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the best individual to lead the country now. He said in a political and economic crisis, Malaysia would benefit as we have a leader like Dr Mahathir to save the country from destruction.   “What was committed by the former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had damaged all institutions including the institutions founded to protect the interest of the people such as Felda and Tabung Haji. “If I am asked whether the situation is better with Tun Dr Mahathir leading Malaysia, I will sincerely say. I know him...He is the best man to lead Malaysia,” he said in his speech. Also present were PKR president and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP National Organising Secretary and Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president and Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, as well as PKR secretary general cum Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Anwar, who is also PKR president-elect, said that if he was elected as a member of parliament, he would focus on reforming the Parliamentary institution and strengthening its functions to assist the government. He also emphasised the importance of all leaders in PH to provide support to Dr Mahathir to continue leading the country. "I know, as the prime minister came to campaign for a by-election, when he came to Port Dickson, I feel that maybe the love that was hidden in the past being rekindled," he said. About 9,000 attended the talk. The Port Dickson's parliamentary seat was vacated by incumbent Danyal Balagopal Abdullah on Sept 12, to allow Anwar, who recently won unopposed the post of PKR president, to contest and return to the Dewan Rakyat (lower house of the Parliament). In the 14th General Election, May 9, Danyal Balagopal, 68, won the seat with a majority of 17,710 votes defeating BN's V.S.Mogan and Mahfuz Roslan from PAS. The Election Commission had set the polling day on Oct 13 and the early polls Tuesday. The Port Dickson parliament has 75,770 registered voters comprising 43 per cent Malay, Chinese (33 per cent), Indians (22 per cent) and other races (two percent). (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA