Dr Mahathir, Pakatan Harapan taking advantage of by-elections

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's readiness to work with Pakatan Harapan who was his enemy, has shown that both are taking advantage of the by-elections in Sungai Besar, Selangor and Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said both parties seemed confused but the former prime minister and Pakatan Harapan's leadership were also taking advantage of each other.

He said Pakatan Harapan was riding on Dr Mahathir, while the former UMNO leader was riding on the coalition as he could not move alone after quitting UMNO.

"He (Dr Mahathir) is not riding on a big horse, but old horses like Lim Kit Siang, and horses with broken legs like PAS splinter party, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

"Now, it is no longer a political phenomenon, but more a case of who is riding who. Dr Mahathir is hoping for a horse he can ride on, and others (Pakatan Harapan) are hoping to ride on him," he told reporters here today.

Ahmad Shabery said Lim's willingness to work with Dr Mahathir was more about achieving DAP's objectives after they had used PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and former opposition head Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He added that the involvement of PAS and Amanah in both the by-elections was not to defeat the Barisan Nasional (BN), but as a platform to show which party was stronger.

"PAS wants to prove that its splinter party (Amanah) cannot survive, while Amanah wants to make sure that PAS does not get anywhere. (Defeating) BN is not their objective. So, I urge all BN supporters to come out to vote and give the victory to us," he said.

The agriculture and agro-based industry minister was asked to comment on Dr Mahathir's presence in Sungai Besar yesterday, to take part in a special conference with opposition leaders, as well as to show support for Amanah's candidate Azhar Abdul Shukur.

The parliamentary by-elections for both constituencies are being held simultaneously on June 18, following the deaths of both incumbents, Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon (Sungai Besar) and Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad (Kuala Kangsar) in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.