Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Photo: Reuters
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https://scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3038996/mahathir-and-anwar-timeline-malaysian-succession-and-speculation Politics
Mahathir and Anwar: a timeline of Malaysian succession and speculation
- It has been 18 months since Mahathir led his Pakatan Harapan coalition to election victory, but there is increasing anxiety about the country’s direction
- Among the chief concerns is the question of when – and if – he will hand over power to Anwar Ibrahim
Malaysia’s prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Photo: EPA
Eighteen months after Mahathir Mohamad spearheaded a stunning election victory to lead Malaysia for a second time, public euphoria about his Pakatan Harapan alliance is giving way to increasing anxiety about where the country is heading.
The slow pace of reforms is one reason for concern, but the big question is whether yet another political civil war is on the horizon as the 94-year-old leader demurs on when exactly he will hand over power to his named successor and one-time sworn enemy, Anwar Ibrahim.
Will Mahathir stay the full five-year term, or will he hand the reins to Anwar as promised?
This Week in Asia plots the twists and turns surrounding these questions.
J anuary 7, 2018
Pakatan Harapan names Mahathir Mohamad as its prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming general election. The coalition agrees to obtain a royal pardon for the imprisoned Anwar Ibrahim to allow him to succeed Mahathir, then aged 92.
May 9, 2018
Mahathir and Pakatan Harapan stun the world with an upset election victory over the long-ruling Barisan Nasional.
May 10, 2018
Mahathir is sworn in as prime minister, becoming the world’s oldest head of government.
May 15, 2018
Mahathir says that at “an initial stage, maybe lasting one or two years, I will be the prime minister”.
May 16, 2018
King Muhammad V, with Mahathir’s backing, grants Anwar an unconditional pardon for his sodomy conviction. “In the past, it was said I put him in prison,” Mahathir says. “Now, I have freed him.”
May 17, 2018
In media interviews, Anwar reiterates the two-year timeline for him to take over from Mahathir.
Malaysia’s former king, Sultan Muhammad V, pardoned Anwar Ibrahim in May 2018. Photo: AFP
June 9, 2018
For the first time, Mahathir suggests the two-year timeline is not fixed. “It could be earlier or even later,” he says in an interview.
A ugust 4, 2018
Pakatan Harapan wins by-election in the state seat of Sungai Kandis in Selangor.
August 5, 2018
Anwar, 70, wins the presidency of his Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR, or People’s Justice Party) uncontested. PKR is Pakatan Harapan’s biggest constituent party.
August 24, 2018
PKR’s nine-week internal election begins. The poll casts a spotlight on the growing divide between Anwar and his long-time No 2 Azmin Ali, who is seen as Mahathir’s preferred successor.
September 8, 2018
Pakatan Harapan wins by-elections in the state seats of Seri Setia and Balakong in Selangor.
Prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim. Photo: AP
October 13, 2018
Anwar returns to politics after winning a by-election in the federal seat of Port Dickson.
October 15, 2018
Anwar says that as an MP he will give Mahathir space to enact reforms “unaffected by restraints of time or pressure”.
November 18, 2018
Azmin wins PKR deputy presidency after bruising campaign against Anwar loyalist Rafizi Ramli.
December 18, 2018
Signs of Anwar loyalists’ discontent with Mahathir appear. Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, quits her post in the federal government.
December 30, 2018
Mahathir cools growing talk of a “grand design” by Anwar’s camp to oust him by stressing he is only a “temporary” prime minister.
Pakatan Harapan supporters outside the National Palace a day after the 2018 general election.Photo: Reuters
Ja nuary 26, 2019
Pakatan Harapan suffers its first by-election defeat in the federal seat of Cameron Highlands.
February 14, 2019
Anwar tells Bloomberg he expects to become prime minister within two years.
March 2, 2019
Pakatan Harapan suffers a second by-election defeat in the state seat of Semenyih in Selangor.
April 13, 2019
The state seat of Rantau in Negeri Sembilan becomes Pakatan Harapan’s third by-election defeat.
May 9, 2019
Pakatan Harapan commemorates its first year in power. Mahathir says: “I think I may be able to last another one year, at least.”
May 11, 2019
Pakatan Harapan wins by-election in the federal seat of Sandakan in Sabah.
Kedah chief minister Mukhriz Mahathir. Photo: Tashny Sukumaran
J une 12, 2019
Azmin “categorically denies” claims he is in a gay-sex video that went viral. His supporters say this is a smear campaign by Anwar’s camp.
July 11, 2019
Mahathir’s politician son Mukhriz denies the existence of a succession timeline for the country’s leadership. “There was no agreement that it has to be two years,” he says.
July 18, 2019
Police say the viral gay-sex video is an “evil conspiracy masterminded by a leader of a political party”.
July 29, 2019
Azmin issues a statement calling for Mahathir to serve out his full five-year term.
September 14, 2019
Opposition parties Umno and PAS formalise an alliance under the banner of Islamic unity.
September 19, 2019
Anwar’s PKR slams “parties akin to wolves in sheep’s clothing” who are harping on the succession timeline.
Malaysia’s Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali. Photo: EPA
September 26, 2019
Eyebrows are raised when Mahathir says in New York that he may have “at most three years” as prime minister.
October 15, 2019
Umno stalwart Hishammuddin Hussein dismisses claims by Anwar’s allies that he is plotting to stop Anwar becoming premier.
October 28, 2019
Anwar says there are “treacherous attempts” to stop him from replacing Mahathir.
November 5, 2019
Mahathir tells the Financial Times “there was no actual time date or time mentioned” for his handover to Anwar.
November 16, 2019
Pakatan Harapan suffers a crushing by-election defeat in the federal seat of Tanjung Pi’ai in Johor.
November 18, 2019
Azmin sets tongues wagging after a late-night meeting with opposition MPs.
November 20, 2019
Mahathir effectively rules out stepping down in 2020. He says a cabinet reshuffle may be forthcoming but rules out drastic changes in the midst of the country’s Apec hosting duties.