Learn from history, says Kadir Jasin in cryptic message to ‘successor’ Anwar

(FMT) – One of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s closest aides has joined a simmering debate on the choice of Anwar Ibrahim to lead the country, with a cryptic message to the PKR leader to learn from history.

Kadir said Anwar was once described as a “chick that had just started growing feathers” when he was recruited by Mahathir to join Umno in the early eighties.

Kadir said Anwar was quick to climb the political ladder soon after becoming the “giant slayer” in the 1982 elections, defeating PAS strongman Yusof Rawa in Permatang Pauh.

“In 11 years, he rose from a chick with soft feathers to a deputy prime minister and the anointed successor of Dr Mahathir,” Kadir wrote.

He said what transpired in the years to follow was history, and added:

“We are always reminded of the saying of philosopher George Santayana, that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” Kadir wrote on his blog post today.

Kadir, who is the prime minister’s special adviser on media and communications, said Mahathir had several times admitted to picking individuals who turned out to be the “wrong choice”.

“I am not questioning whether he is serious or joking when he made the statement,” he wrote, referring to Mahathir’s recent remarks at the PPBM general assembly that he was not good at choosing his successors.

But he said Mahathir should not be made accountable for the actions of his successors.

“I think Dr Mahathir followed the rules when choosing his successors and future successors,” he added.

The comments by Kadir, whose undiplomatic views in the past have put off politicians and royalty, come on the back of suggestions that Mahathir should not give up his post after two years to make way for Anwar.

Mahathir, whose dramatic sacking of Anwar in 1998 sparked the Reformasi movement, made peace with his former deputy and protégé in 2016, and both men later headed the Pakatan Harapan coalition that brought down Barisan Nasional in the May polls.

Under a deal struck by the PH leadership, Anwar, who handsomely won the Port Dickson by-election to mark his return to active politics, will succeed Mahathir as prime minister in two years’ time.

The issue was brought up again during the PPBM general assembly last weekend, when a delegate proposed that Mahathir remain as prime minister until the 15th general election is due.

“I made a promise, I will keep my promise. Some people think that the tenure is too short,” Mahathir had said in response.

In his blog post today, Kadir, a veteran journalist who headed the once influential Umno-linked media group New Straits Times Press, cited Mahathir’s run-ins with his successors, only to fall out with them later.

He gave as an example Mahathir’s problems with his first deputy Musa Hitam in the mid-eighties, saying the latter had portrayed himself as a “liberal” when he opposed Mahathir’s economic policies including the plan for Proton, which kickstarted Malaysia’s national car industry.

Similarly, he said Mahathir had a falling out with Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who took over after Mahathir’s 22-year tenure.

During the Umno crisis of the mid-eighties, Abdullah was part of the so-called “Team B” headed by Mahathir’s nemesis Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Mahathir later appointed Abdullah as foreign minister.

Kadir said he had then asked the leader on the decision to appoint Abdullah.

“He replied that he brought back Abdullah due to his position as vice-president in the party. As the Umno president, he said he must heed the members’ wish,” said Kadir.

“So it’s not Mahathir who was wrong in picking his successors, but the successors had shot themselves in the foot,” he said.