Mahathir did not mean me, says a defensive Anwar

(FMT) – Anwar Ibrahim today said that the prime minister was referring to a particular “personality” from a royal family when stating that opponents to the Rome Statute were trying to pit the Malay rulers against the federal government.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said Putrajaya’s decision to withdraw from the treaty was because of smear campaigns by “certain quarters” who had politicised the issue.

Anwar, who is PKR president, had been asked to comment on speculation that Mahathir, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, was referring to someone from the ruling coalition.

However, Anwar said Mahathir’s statement was very specific. “The prime minister was making reference to a specific attempt by a particular personality in the royal family or household and there was no reference to party personnel,” he told reporters here today.