Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad says he’ll hand over power to Anwar Ibrahim after Apec 2020

The prime minister, who had anointed his successor after taking office last year, said he’d make way for Anwar even as the latter faced new sexual allegations

Mahathir said stepping down after the Apec summit hosted by Malaysia in November 2020 would prevent any disruptions

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Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says he’ll make way for his successor ‘irrespective of whatever allegation’. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:16pm, 10 Dec 2019Updated: 1:47pm, 18 Dec 2019

Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad, the world’s oldest prime minister, on Tuesday promised to hand over power to his anointed successor, Anwar Ibrahim, in spite of new sexual assault allegations against the latter.

Mahathir, 94, said he would not hand over before a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) countries that Malaysia is to host in November but could be ready after that.

“I made a promise to hand over and I will, accepting that I thought that a change immediately before the Apec summit would be disruptive,” Mahathir said.

“As far I’m concerned, I’m stepping down and I’m handing the baton to him. If people don’t want him, that is their business, but I will do my part of the promise … irrespective of whatever allegation. I made my promise, I keep my promise,” he said.

Anwar Ibrahim has been jailed twice on separate counts of sodomy and for corruption – charges he says were political. Photo: Bloomberg

Asked if a handover could come in December 2020, Mahathir said: “We’ll look at that when the time comes.”

The turbulent relationship between the two men – allies turned fierce rivals who later reunited last May to unseat the administration of Najib Razak, whose Barisan Nasional coalition ruled uninterrupted for six decades – has shaped politics in Malaysia for decades.