Teaming up with Dr M means you agree with Anwar’s jailing, PKR, Pakatan told

(MMO) – By jumping into bed with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PKR and the opposition are indirectly agreeing with the jailing of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy, Umno minister Datuk Seri Shabery Cheek said today.

The politician noted that although he was once the opposition’s number one enemy, Dr Mahathir is now stumping for Pakatan Harapan in both the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.

Shabery said by allowing the former prime minister into their fold, the pact’s members were as good as admitting they were wrong before about the alleged political conspiracy against Anwar.

“Now, if PKR accepts Mahathir that means they have accepted all the allegations, slander and punishment that Dr Mahathir has meted on their leader Datuk Seri Anwar.

“Today they can sit with Dr Mahathir… that means what has been done and said by Dr Mahathir is true and Anwar deserves to be in jail because PKR itself has ‘mengangkat’ (idolised) Dr Mahathir — that is the truth,” Shabery told a press conference at the media centre here today.

The Kemaman MP also reminded PKR of its roots, pointing out that the party was formed after Anwar’s 1998 sacking by Dr Mahathir over the sodomy allegations, and was meant to be a platform for the former’s supporters to stand up against the alleged “political conspiracy”.

Shabery also took a swipe at Dr Mahathir, saying that by standing together with his former foes in the opposition, he was accepting their previous accusations against him, including their labelling him a “dictator”.

“This is as though Dr Mahathir had admitted that whatever the opposition leaders said against him last time like being a dictator, Bank Negara swindling and stories about his children is true,” he added.

Dr Mahathir yesterday openly declared his support for Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) candidates in both Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-election against Barisan Nasional (BN).

He claimed that this would show Putrajaya that the people were unhappy with the leadership of current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

In 1998, Anwar was sacked as deputy prime minister over a financial scandal. During that time, he also was investigated and convicted for sodomy.

Many opposition members and critics claimed at the time that Anwar was innocent and that the allegations were part of a political ploy by Dr Mahathir to remove his then number two from power.

Anwar is currently serving out a five-year jail sentence for his second sodomy conviction.