MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong recalled Mahathir’s sacking of Anwar Ibrahim from the Cabinet in 1998, the Ops Lalang mass arrests, as well as the judicial crisis of the late 1980s which saw the removal of then lord president Salleh Abas.
Wee said the decision announced by PH today showed that the opposition had no principles.
“So if they are willing to look past those issues and change their minds about him now, they can easily change their minds about other matters should they take over Putrajaya,” said Wee.
At the PH convention today, Mahathir was officially named as the coalition’s PM candidate should it win the general election, which must be held by August this year.
In his speech, Mahathir thanked Anwar and his family for accepting him despite their past experience with him.
Mahathir also urged his critics among the opposition to ignore past enmities in facing their common goal of defeating BN at the polls.
“Those uneasy with me, my policies, my actions, although it is difficult for them, they realise that what is important is not the past, but what is in front of us,” he said.
Wee said he was not surprised by PH’s choice of Mahathir.
“Mahathir is the only person they can rely on,” he added.
MIC treasurer S Vell Paari said the decision by PH today ignored the sacrifices of PKR’s hardcore supporters including those who joined the Reformasi protests of the late 1990s.
“Now, he is your boss. Life is sure cruel sometimes,” he said.
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