Mahathir: My wife would do the same
Dr Mahathir Mohamad responded with his trademark sarcasm when asked to comment on his former protege-turned-nemesis Anwar Ibrahim announcing his decision to contest in a by-election.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad responded with his trademark sarcasm when asked to comment on his former protege-turned-nemesis Anwar Ibrahim announcing his decision to 'run' in a by-election.
"A loving wife could do nothing better... My wife would have done the same," replied the 82-year-old former premier with a grin when posed with the question during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
He then turned to his wife, Siti Hasmah next to him, who flashed him a smile.
Mahathir also poked fun by asking if Anwar has undergone physical training to run.
"Has he been training in running?" he said in jest.
Just minutes earlier, Anwar announced at a press conference that he will be running for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, which was vacated by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today.
Wan Azizah - who is also PKR president and opposition leader - submitted her resignation to the House Speaker this morning.
Return to Parliament
If successful, the by-election would pave the way for Anwar to return to Parliament after a 10-year setback to his political career and try to claim the prime minister post, which Mahathir had denied him back then.
In 1998, Mahathir had sacked Anwar as deputy premier on the grounds that he is 'morally unfit' for the position.
Anwar was later charged with corruption and sodomy. He spent six years in jail before he was released in 2004 after the Federal Court overturned his sodomy conviction.
The charismatic politician is now facing a fresh sodomy allegation and like in 1998, he claims this is a political conspiracy. This time around it is to purportedly thwart opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat's plan to seize power.
However, the government has denied this.
