Anwar cries foul as Malaysian parties discuss sweeping coalition change
By Joseph Sipalan and Rozanna Latiff
Reuters 24 February 2020
FILE PHOTO: Malaysia's politician Anwar Ibrahim speaks during an interview with Reuters in Petaling Jaya
By Joseph Sipalan and Rozanna Latiff
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's would-be leader
Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday accused 94-year-old Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's party and "traitors" in his own camp of plotting a wholesale change in the ruling coalition that could ultimately deny him the premiership.
After being promised that he would one day become prime minister, Anwar allied with former rival Mahathir to win a surprise victory in the 2018 general election and end the six-decade grip of a party accused of widespread corruption.
But on Sunday
politicians from the coalition held talks at a hotel near Kuala Lumpur on a possible new alliance with members of the ousted former ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), political sources said.
"We know there are
attempts to bring down PH and form a new government," Anwar said, referring to the Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition that he helped form under Mahathir, who leads the Bersatu party.
Anwar said of the alleged plotters that: "
It involves our former friends in Bersatu and a small faction of traitors from PKR."
Anwar's PKR party is the biggest constituent of the current alliance, but it is beset by internal divisions. Meanwhile, Mahathir has said in recent months that he needs more time for a planned transition for which he has never set a date.
Forming a new coalition could allow Mahathir to serve out a full term instead of handing over to Anwar as promised.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/anwar-cries-foul-malaysian-parties-175335420.html