Malaysia’s Mahathir warns coalition may last only one term ‘unless they change their ways’
- Mahathir’s coalition won landmark victory in 2018 but has lost five by-elections, including one over the weekend, and polls show waning popularity
- He also told the briefing the government had received five proposals for its debt-laden national carrier Malaysia Airlines
Mahathir led the Pakatan Harapan coalition, or Alliance of Hope, to a spectacular victory in a general election in May 2018, joining hands with former foes to end the 61-year rule of the Barisan Nasional coalition.
But Mahathir’s coalition has lost five by-elections since then, including one over the weekend, and polls have shown waning popularity among the public.
“We have lost five by-elections but they still don’t understand,” Mahathir told reporters in Langkawi, a resort island off the western coast of Malaysia.
“I told them in a democracy you need strong support from the people. But instead they fight amongst themselves and divide the people … They are not going to win unless they change their ways,” he said.
Nearly two years since the unexpected win, the government has been increasingly criticised for failing to deliver promised reforms on governance and human rights quickly and to protect the rights of the majority ethnic Malays.
The 94-year-old premier reiterated on Monday he would give way to Anwar after November, when Kuala Lumpur will host world leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, and before the coalition’s five-year term is completed in 2023. But he again declined to commit to a specific timeline.
“When the time comes, I feel that I have done all I can, I will step down,” he said.
Mahathir was Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister from 1981 to 2003, when he retired from politics. In 2018 when he again won office he became the world’s oldest leader aged 92.
Mahathir also told the briefing the government had received five proposals for its debt-laden national carrier Malaysia Airlines.
Mahathir, set retirement date or we’ll do it for you: Anwar ally
“There are about five proposals but of course some of them are just no go,” Mahathir said without giving more details. “We need to listen to everybody to find out what is the best solution.”
The Malaysian government has been seeking a strategic partner for the financially struggling airline, which is still recovering from two tragedies in 2014, when flight MH370 disappeared in what remains a mystery and flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine.
Taken private by sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional in 2014, the national carrier has been struggling to post a profit.
