Former Malaysian prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has issued a bold challenge to current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, urging him to call for an election in order to gauge the support he enjoys from the Malaysian public.
Dr. Mahathir accused his former deputy of abusing his power, alleging that Anwar has been exploiting the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to target his political adversaries and exerting undue influence over the judiciary to ensure favorable outcomes for his allies. Dr. Mahathir maintained that such tactics were never employed during his own lengthy tenure as prime minister. During a press conference, Dr. Mahathir emphasized his past electoral success, having secured victory in five elections with a two-thirds majority.
He expressed confidence that if he had been abusing his position as prime minister, he would not have been able to consistently secure such significant electoral victories. Challenging Anwar directly, Dr. Mahathir called on him to initiate an election immediately to gauge the sentiment of the people. Anwar assumed office as Malaysia's 10th prime minister on November 24, 2022, following a closely contested general election that resulted in a hung Parliament.
Anwar managed to secure the requisite majority support to form a government after receiving endorsements from MPs representing Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, Warisan, and other political groups. Taking a subtle swipe at Anwar, Dr. Mahathir remarked that political leaders become prime ministers and assemble governments by winning elections, alluding to the fact that Anwar was unable to secure a victory.
In the 15th general election, Anwar's coalition, Pakatan Harapan, won 82 seats, while Perikatan Nasional secured 73 seats, Barisan Nasional earned 30 seats, GPS obtained 23 seats, GRS secured six seats, and Warisan won three seats. Additionally, two independent candidates were elected. Dr. Mahathir himself contested the Langkawi seat in the 15th general election but was among the 369 candidates who lost their deposits after obtaining less than one-eighth of the votes.
The challenge issued by Dr. Mahathir to Anwar Ibrahim has sparked intrigue and discussion within Malaysian political circles. As the two leaders engage in a war of words, the possibility of an election looms, which would serve as a critical juncture for gauging the support and confidence of the Malaysian electorate.
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