Dr M's new coalition: People have lost faith with Pakatan Harapan - Gerakan
Suganthi Suparmaniam
July 18, 2016 11:27 MYT
July 18, 2016 11:27 MYT
He said the new Opposition coalition would lead to the removal of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the de facto leader of the Opposition.
The formation of a new Opposition coalition by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad just proves that the people have lost faith with the Pakatan Harapan, said Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang.
He said the new Opposition coalition would also lead to the removal of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the de facto leader of the Opposition.
“Gerakan Youth welcomes the formation of the new Opposition coalition by Tun Dr Mahathir and the imminent replacement of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the de facto leader of the Opposition," he said in a statement today.
"In 1998, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as our former Prime Minister had removed Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim as our then Deputy Prime Minister, which also led to his subsequent removal from Barisan Nasional."
"After 18 years, it looks like the formation of a new Opposition coalition by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would again lead to the removal of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but this time as the de facto leader of the Opposition. This is certainly unimaginable in 1998," he added.
Tan also called on Dr Mahathir to set a new standard for the Opposition.
On Thursday, Dr Mahathir announced that he is partnering with Opposition leaders to form a new coalition.
READ: Tun Mahathir to form new coalition with Opposition
The new coalition will feature DAP, PKR, Parti Amanah Negara, and a soon-to-be formed political party, he said.
The former premier said the new coalition will operate as a single entity against Barisan Nasional.
On Sunday, former attorney-general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail denied involvement in the new party to be formed by Dr Mahathir after his name listed as among the party's top leadership became viral through social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
"The recent release of a list of people supposedly involved in the formation of the new party is a fake and a lie. I have never been involved and never will be involved in politics. I am and will always be a professional," he was quoted by Bernama.
The list of the new political party leadership that is said expected to be formed by Dr Mahathir, among others, named former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as being appointed as president while former UMNO Vice President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as his deputy.