Top Malaysian minister Azmin Ali calls on Mahathir Mohamad to serve full term as country’s leader, not make way for Anwar Ibrahim

Economic affairs official says Mahathir’s leadership is key to ensuring ‘stability, continuity and consistency’

Statement from Azmin adds further strain to relationship with prime minister-in-waiting Anwar following accusations over viral sex tape

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Published: 4:04pm, 29 Jul 2019Updated: 9:09pm, 29 Jul 2019

The fractious relationship between two key Malaysian leaders – premier-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim and top minister Azmin Ali – took a new twist on Monday when Azmin called for Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to serve out his full five-year term instead of making way for Anwar.

In a statement echoing similar demands from rival opposition parties, economic affairs minister Azmin said Mahathir’s leadership was key to ensuring “stability, continuity and consistency of government policies to drive investment as well as create jobs and prosperity for everyone”.

Opposition support for Mahathir would create a new era of bipartisanship allowing for more institutional reforms, Azmin added.

Over the weekend allied opposition parties the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) called for Mahathir, 94, to remain prime minister until the end of his term.

Economic affairs minister Azmin Ali. Photo: EPA

“PAS and Umno take the same stand that they will defend the premiership of Dr Mahathir until the next general election,” PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said in an interview with party-owned newspaper Harakah.