I have never blocked Anwar from becoming PM - Tun Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad denied that he had any intention of preventing Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from leading the next administration.

The Langkawi MP said that Anwar should have replaced him as Prime Minister in the late 90s but could not do so because certain things happened, and he was put in jail.

He added that Anwar should be named as the Prime Minister when Pakatan Harapan managed to overthrow Barisan Nasional in the last general election, but it was not possible at that time as Anwar had just received the royal pardon and did not have a Parliamentary seat.

“I was the one who appointed Anwar Ibrahim until he became Deputy Prime Minister (1993-1998), will replace me if I resign (as Prime Minister). But there were things that happened that made it not to turn out that way.

"After that, he was actually sentenced, he was in prison. And he is the leader of Pakatan Rakyat. So, he should have been named, but because he could not...

"So, I was chosen not because of his support for me, because he is sitting in (prison)," he said in an 'Exclusive With Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad' interview on Astro AWANI tonight.

During the Pakatan Harapan's rule, Dr Mahathir reportedly would hand over the Prime Minister's portfolio to Anwar two years after the general election.

However, he changed his stance and wanted to remain as Prime Minister at least until November this year following Malaysia’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

However, the political crisis that occurred in February this year saw Dr Mahathir forced to resign as Prime Minister and Chairman of the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), further resulting in the fall of the Federal Government led by Pakatan Harapan after only 22 months in power.

Following on from the episode, the relationship between the two veteran politicians was seen to be cold again.

"But the story that goes out to the people, it is as if I was the one who stopped him. Now if I want to be the Prime Minister, I can be the Prime Minister. But I hold on to principles.

"When it's time for me to resign, I will resign. I do not want to hold this position forever. If other people want to choose Anwar, let them choose Anwar,” he added.