KOTA KINABALU: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad scoffed at the latest attack by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the former prime minister being the one to blame for Pakatan Harapan government’s failure during its 22 months in power.
"Of course (Anwar will blame me), it’s not like he’s going to praise me isn’t it?" Dr Mahathir said, when asked to respond to Anwar's remarks during campaigning at Sungai Batu in Bayan Lepas on Sunday (Nov 6).
Contending that Anwar was the one who ruined the country, the Gerakan Tanah Air chairman (GTA) said the Pakatan Federal Government achieved a lot of success during its short time.
"But there were things in the manifesto that could not be implemented because it went against the Constitution.
"When this happens, we need two-thirds majority and only then they can be implemented, but Anwar did not help at all.
"He only wanted to become prime minister. He claimed to have a lot of support (in the Dewan Rakyat) but where is that support when we did not have enough numbers then," Dr Mahathir said after launching his Pejuang party here on Sunday (Nov 6).
During his speech at the "Ramah Mesra Bersama Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim" programme in Sungai Batu, Anwar had blamed the seventh prime minister for the Pakatan government’s failure to govern the country after winning the 14th General Election.
The PKR president claimed Dr Mahathir failed to implement any changes during the 22 months and that this led to the people becoming unhappy with the election promises made by the coalition.
To another question on working with Parti Warisan, Dr Mahathir, who was also Pejuang chairman, said he was unsure this would happen, claiming the party led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal was waning in popularity.
"I think Warisan does not even have enough candidates. Warisan is very new (and) is not known in the peninsula, they are known as a Sabah party.
"And now even in Sabah, it has lost support. Many of Warisan’s former elected representatives had left the party, so what can Warisan do? Nothing," he said.
Dr Mahathir said GTA placed high importance on working with parties that have quality leaders and members.
"We want people who are not facing any legal action, not corrupt and bankrupt. We reject anybody who has problems with the authorities," he added.
Warisan was contesting 52 parliamentary seats throughout the country while Pejuang was vying for 132 seats nationwide.
Dr Mahathir also claimed that none of the bigger coalitions contesting in the upcoming general polls could form an effective government.
"Pakatan, Perikatan Nasional as well as Barisan Nasional cannot establish a good government.
"Only GTA can because we have the capabilities as well as many plans to develop the country and good ideas on how to rectify the damage made by them.
"We are the only clean party at this moment, all the others have got problems," he said.
Dr Mahathir added that the low turnout for the Pejuang launch was not a reflection of the party's support in Sabah.
When asked about it, he said: "No, I think people have other things to do. (But) the enthusiasm and spirit is there."
The former premier added that he was confident that the party would be able to win over Sabahans in the coming polls.
