Bangkok: Malaysia's 92-year-old former long-serving prime minster Mahathir Mohamad has been named to lead opposition parties into one of his country's most bitterly fought elections since independence.

Authorities in Kuala Lumpur have also announced that former popular opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be released from jail on June 8, opening the way for him to be possibly pardoned and eventually become prime minister.

Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's 92-year-old former prime minister. Credit:Bloomberg

Long-time arch enemies Mahathir and Anwar have come together in a stunning turnaround from years of bitter feuding that shaped Malaysia's political landscape for almost two decades.

The pair are seen as the biggest threat for Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is engulfed in a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal.</s>KAJANG (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Jailed Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be released from prison in June, says his wife and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

"Insyallah, he will be released on June 11," she said in her speech at the launch of the Wanita Pakatan Harapan convention in Kajang on Saturday (Jan 6).

She noted also that Jan 6 marked Anwar's 1,062nd day in prison.

"Although he is not physically here, he is supporting our fight in spirit," she said.

At a press conference later, Dr Wan Azizah said that Pakatan Harapan had yet to finalise its choice of prime ministerial candidate, adding that the candidate could be a woman.

"We have many qualified candidates and we will look at the credibility factor as well as the female factor. A female can be prime minister. What's wrong with that?" she said.

On whether PKR had resolved its issues on the naming of a suitable candidate for the prime minister's post, Dr Wan Azizah said: "Why do you want to speculate? We are solid. There is no internal problem."

It was reported that Anwar has become a stumbling block for Pakatan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be named as the prime minister candidate if the opposition coalition manages to win the next general election.

Pakatan is expected to announced its prime ministerial candidate on Sunday.</s>Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is expected to be released from prison on June 11, an event that is likely to have implications for the country's political temperature.

"God willing, he will be released on June 11," his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said in a speech at a Pakatan Harapan (PH) function, as quoted by The Star Online.

Dr Wan Azizah is president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), a federal opposition party that heads the PH alliance ruling Selangor. She was also quoted by The Malaysian Insight news portal as saying: "If the law permits, he will be released on June 11."

This is the first time anyone has given an actual date for Anwar's release after serving a five-year sentence for sodomy. Anwar started serving the sentence in February 2015, meaning he would be released in 2020, should he have to serve the full term.

But prisoners in Malaysia often get a one-third reduction of sentences for good behaviour. By June this year, Anwar would have been in jail for 40 months - or two-thirds of his five-year sentence.

The announcement came amid preparations for the general election by both the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition led by Prime Minister Najib Razak, and the four-party PH opposition alliance helmed by ex-premier Tun Mahathir Mohamad, 92.

Datuk Seri Najib is expected to call for the polls within months.

Some pundits see a window for the elections after the Chinese New Year holidays on Feb 16 and 17, and before the Muslim fasting month on May 16. Polls could be held as late as August this year.

"Dr Mahathir is sharp on policies and knows the workings of the government; Anwar will rally the urban crowd," said ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Norshahril Saat. "If Anwar is out, BN's strategy will change and they could bring back the old stories" about the Mahathir-Anwar breakup in 1998, she added.

That year, then prime minister Dr Mahathir sacked Anwar, then his deputy. The two politicians have come together again after Dr Mahathir left Umno in early 2016. Dr Mahathir is officially the chairman of PH and Anwar its de facto leader.

Due to his conviction, Anwar cannot stand for election over the next five years unless he is pardoned by the Malaysian King.

But once freed from jail, the 70-year-old charismatic opposition chief could freely travel to work the ground, and inject energy into the opposition.

His ability to get voters excited about his "reform agenda" and in uniting the opposition shook Malaysian politics in the 2008 and 2013 polls. The opposition in 2008 captured five of Malaysia's 13 state assemblies. And in 2013, the united opposition for the first time won the popular vote.

Based on this history, PM Najib might consider calling the elections before June, some pundits say.

Mr Najib, 64, is currently unassailable in his party Umno and in the 13-party BN coalition, after locally containing the scandal surrounding state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

On the other hand, the opposition is weaker following Anwar's jailing and the death of spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), both in February 2015. PAS is now leaning towards BN-led Umno.

The four-party PH, when not busy trading barbs with PAS, is split on whether to nominate Dr Mahathir as its candidate for prime minister, should it win the upcoming elections.

PH is holding its national convention today, when it is expected to name its nominee prime minister.

Leaders of the opposition pact yesterday held a five-hour meeting to decide on its nominee, but declined to tell reporters on what was decided.

"Tomorrow (Sunday), you will hear all the announcements that will clear all of your questions," Dr Mahathir told reporters, as quoted by Malaysiakini.</s>Bangkok: Malaysia's 92-year-old former long-serving prime minster Mahathir Mohamad has been named to lead opposition parties into one of his country's most bitterly fought elections since independence.

Authorities in Kuala Lumpur have also announced that former popular opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be released from jail on June 8, opening the way for him to be possibly pardoned and eventually become prime minister.

Long-time arch enemies Mahathir and Anwar have come together in a stunning turnaround from years of bitter feuding that shaped Malaysia's political landscape for almost two decades.

The pair are seen as the biggest threat for Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is engulfed in a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal.

The four-party opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition also named Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Ismail as its candidate for deputy prime minister at the elections that must be called before August.

Announcing the decision Pakatan's secretary general Saifuddin Abdullah described Mahathir and Anwar as two "statesmen" who are cooperating to topple Najib's long ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

Victory would see Mahathir become the world's oldest leader.

Anwar, 70, who has been serving a five-year jail sentence on politically-motivated sodomy charges, was previously named opposition leader but his conviction bans him from standing for elected office for five years.

But Saifuddin said a new government would immediately commence legal processes to obtain a royal pardon so Anwar could immediately play a role in the federal government and subsequently be proposed as a candidate to be prime minister.

Under Anwar's leadership opposition parties won the popular vote at elections in 2013 but a gerrymandered system of voting favouring rural Malays prevented the government's defeat.

Mahathir sacked Anwar as his deputy in the 1990s.

Anwar was then subjected to years of political persecution that included a fierce beating and years in jail on trumped up charges.

During 22 years in power, Mahathir clashed with successive Australian leaders from both sides of politics, once declaring them to be too "pale of skin" to engage in Asia.

His antagonism shut Australia out of key Asian forums and sabotaged diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Last year Mahathir lashed out again at Australia, accusing Canberra of turning a blind eye to corruption in the sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (!MDB) which Najib set-up and oversaw through an advisory board.

Almost $1 billion was transferred into Najib's personal bank accounts and investigations are underway in at least five countries into how billions of dollars have allegedly gone missing from the fund.

Anwar has also in the past criticised Australia for failing to speak up on his behalf as he endured years after political persecution, including from Mahathir, who sacked him as his deputy prime minister in the 1990s.

Despite the 1MDB scandal Najib has strengthened his power in UMNO through a system of money politics and patronage, as he used state agencies to silence his critics and harass independent media outlets.

Analysts say that with Anwar in jail Mahathir has become the person most feared by the 13-party ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

He was an authoritarian leader who ruled during a 'Golden era' of unprecedented period of growth .

Analysts say his stature and track record ranks higher than Najib in many of UMNO's core strongholds.

Anwar's early release in June because of good behaviour could prompt Najib to call a snap election, analysts say.

Anwar would inject fresh energy into the opposition's campaign if he is released by the time Malaysians go to the polls.

In a speech read out by his daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar at Pakatan's convention on Sunday, Anwar said he accepted the decision of the coalition's presidential council to name Mahathir as its candidate for prime minister.

"I urge my friends to focus on the principles of the struggle we started a decade ago," he said.</s>Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during an anti-kleptocracy rally in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 14 October 2017. Photo: REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin/Files

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's opposition coalition on Sunday named 92-year old former premier Mahathir Mohamad as its prime ministerial candidate for a general election that must be called by August.

With the country's most popular opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, in jail, Mahathir is seen as the biggest threat to Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is engulfed in a corruption scandal.

Mahathir, who earned a reputation during his 22-year tenure as prime minister of being a no-nonsense authoritarian with little time for dissenters promoting liberal values, stands to become the world's oldest leader if the opposition wins.

A victory could also potentially pave the way for former Mahathir foe Anwar to become the prime minister.

Mahathir and Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, will be the Pakatan Harapan coalition's candidates for the premier and deputy prime ministerial posts respectively, secretary-general Saifuddin Abdullah said at the alliance's convention.

If the opposition wins, the component parties have agreed to immediately commence the legal processes to obtain a royal pardon for Anwar, Saifuddin said.

"...So that Anwar could immediately play a role in the federal government and subsequently be proposed as a candidate for the eighth prime minister," he said.

The Mahathir-Anwar coalition and their endorsement of each other is a turnaround from their bitter feud that has shaped Malaysia's political landscape for nearly two decades.

Anwar was once a protege of Mahathir and the rising star of Malaysian politics, but they had a falling-out in the late 1990s. Soon afterwards, Anwar was jailed on charges of sodomy and graft, after being sacked as the deputy prime minister. He denied the charges, dismissing them as politically motivated.

Anwar later led an opposition alliance to stunning electoral gains in 2013. Najib's Barisan Nasional coalition lost the popular vote in that election but managed to stay in power after winning a majority of the seats in parliament.

But Anwar was convicted and jailed again in 2013 for sodomizing a former aide, a charge he and his supporters describe as an attempt to end his career.

The sodomy conviction disqualifies Anwar from political office and from contesting the next election. A royal pardon, however, would allow him to contest.

Opposition to Prime Minister Najib has brought Anwar and Mahathir back together, with their parties now working in the opposition coalition.

Najib has been embroiled in a corruption scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). In civil lawsuits, the US Justice Department has alleged that about $4.5-billion was misappropriated from 1MDB.

The fund has denied any wrongdoing and Najib, who founded 1MDB, has denied all allegations of corruption against him and was cleared of wrongdoing by Malaysia's attorney-general.</s>KAJANG - Malaysia's jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be released from prison on June 8, two days ahead of schedule, the Prisons Department director-general said on Sunday (Jan 7).

"The 2000 Prison Regulations (No. 28) states that if a prisoner's release date falls on a weekend or public holiday, they have to be released the day before," Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar was quoted saying by the website.

"Because June 10 is a Sunday and June 9 is a Saturday, he (Anwar) will be released on Friday, June 8," he said.

Anwar's wife and Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had announced at the launch of the Wanita Pakatan Harapan convention in Kajang on Saturday that he would be released from prison on June 11.

His release date was determined based on calculations made in accordance with Section 44 of the Prison Act (1995) and Rule No. 43 (1)(a) of the Prisons Regulations, Datuk Seri Zulkifli said.

Anwar is serving a five-year jail sentence for sodomy, a charge he has said is politically motivated.

He cannot run for political office for five years after his release, unless the Malaysian King pardons him.</s>92-year-old to run as Prime Minister in Malaysia

Malaysia’s opposition coalition on Sunday named 92-year old former premier Mahathir Mohamad as its prime ministerial candidate for a general election that must be called by August.

With the country’s most popular opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in jail, Mahathir is seen as the biggest threat for 64 year-old Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is engulfed in a corruption scandal.

Mahathir, who earned a reputation during his 22-year tenure as prime minister of being a no-nonsense authoritarian with little time for dissenters promoting liberal values, stands to become the world’s oldest leader if the opposition wins.

A victory could also potentially pave the way for former Mahathir foe Anwar to become the prime minister. Mahathir and Anwar’s wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be the Pakatan Harapan coalition’s candidates for the premier and deputy prime ministerial posts respectively, secretary general Saifuddin Abdullah said at the alliance’s convention. If the opposition wins, the component parties have agreed to immediately commence legal processes to obtain a royal pardon for Anwar, Saifuddin said.

“…So that Anwar could immediately play a role in the federal government and subsequently be proposed as a candidate for the eighth prime minister,” he said.

The Mahathir-Anwar coalition and their endorsement of each other is a turnaround from their bitter feud that has shaped Malaysia’s political landscape for nearly two decades.Anwar was once a protege of Mahathir, and the rising star of Malaysian politics, but they had a falling-out in the late 1990s..

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This post was syndicated from The Guardian Nigeria Newspaper – Nigeria and World News. Click here to read the full text on the original website.</s>KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister could once again helm the country, with the opposition coalition naming Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its interim PM pick should it emerge victorious in the elections.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar's wife, was also announced as Pakatan Harapan's choice for deputy prime minister at the coalition's annual convention on Sunday (Jan 7).

Dr Mahathir, 92, would serve as prime minister until his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim is ready to take over upon his release from prison, where he is serving a sentence for a sodomy conviction that the opposition insists is politically motivated.

Anwar is expected to be released in June. Channel NewsAsia understands that Pakatan hopes to get around a five-year political ban for convicts by getting Anwar a royal pardon once they are in government.

Dr Mahathir had told Channel NewsAsia in an interview in June that it would be "churlish" for him not to consider being prime minister again.



Pakatan also announced its seat allocations for peninsula Malaysia for the coming polls, with Mahathir's party Bersatu set to contest 52 seats, PKR 51, the Democratic Action Party 35 and Parti Amanah Negara 27.

Mahathir, who earned a reputation during his 22-year tenure as prime minister of being a no-nonsense authoritarian with little time for dissenters promoting liberal values, stands to become the world's oldest leader if the opposition wins.



If the opposition wins, the component parties have agreed to immediately commence the legal processes to obtain a royal pardon for Anwar, secretary general Saifuddin Abdullah said at the alliance's convention.

"... So that Anwar could immediately play a role in the federal government and subsequently be proposed as a candidate for the eighth prime minister," he said.

The Mahathir-Anwar coalition and their endorsement of each other is a turnaround from their bitter feud that has shaped Malaysia's political landscape for nearly two decades.

Anwar was once a protege of Mahathir, and the rising star of Malaysian politics, but they had a falling-out in the late 1990s.

Soon afterwards, Anwar was jailed on charges of sodomy and graft, after being sacked as the deputy prime minister. He denied the charges, dismissing them as politically motivated.

Anwar later led an opposition alliance to stunning electoral gains in 2013. Najib's Barisan Nasional coalition lost the popular vote in that election, but managed to stay in power after winning a majority of the seats in parliament.

But Anwar was convicted and jailed again in 2013 for sodomizing a former aide, a charge he and his supporters describe as an attempt to end his career.

The sodomy conviction disqualifies Anwar from political office and from contesting the next election. A royal pardon, however, would let him contest.

Opposition to Prime Minister Najib has brought Anwar and Mahathir back together, with their parties now working in the opposition coalition.

Najib has been embroiled in a corruption scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). In civil lawsuits, the US Justice Department has alleged that about US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB.

The fund has denied any wrongdoing and Najib, who founded 1MDB, has denied all allegations of corruption against him and was cleared of wrongdoing by Malaysia's attorney-general.</s>Dr Mahathir Mohamad (in purple jacket) bowing his head after he was named Pakatan Harapan's choice for Prime Minister.

SHAH ALAM After Dr Mahathir Mohamad was named opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan's choice for prime minister yesterday, he did something which showed just how unpredictable life, and for that measure politics, can be.

The former prime minister thanked his ex-deputy Anwar Ibrahim, saying he owed him a "debt of gratitude" for agreeing to work with him in the opposition coalition, the Malay Mail reported.

When he was the prime minister, Dr Mahathir sacked Anwar and then vilified him when he was thrown in jail on sodomy and corruption charges.

"I am aware how he must have felt. It was not easy for him to accept me. I owe him a debt of gratitude, and I say thank you to him," Dr Mahathir, 92, said.

According to unnamed sources quoted by news site The Malaysian Insight (TMI), Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), had set three conditions for Dr Mahathir to be named the coalition candidate for prime minister.

These were for Anwar to be given a pardon and made prime minister within a year of Pakatan winning the election, for PKR to be allocated the highest number of seats to contest the election and for Dr Mahathir to agree to institutional reforms.

Anwar, currently serving a five-year sentence for sodomy, is due to be released from prison on June 8, the Prisons Department director-general said on Sunday, barring any intervention from higher authorities.

He cannot run for political office for five years after his release unless he is pardoned by the King.

Pakatan's announcement comes after disagreement within the pact, chiefly from PKR over the candidate for the post, and criticism from ruling party Umno that the opposition was in disarray.

In a speech read out by his daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar at the convention on Sunday, Anwar said that he would accept the decision of Pakatan's presidential council.

"I urge my friends to focus on the principles of the struggle we started a decade ago," Anwar said, as reported by TMI.

"In the spirit of cooperation and working together, we accept the decisions of the leadership."

In Sunday's announcement, Pakatan also named Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the opposition candidate for deputy prime minister. She is president of PKR.

Pakatan also announced parliamentary seat allocations for its component parties in the election.

PKR will contest the lion's share of seats - 51 of 165 seats in Peninsular Malaysia plus an undisclosed number of seats in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, which have 57 parliamentary constituencies in total.

Of the seats in Peninsular Malaysia, Dr Mahathir's Parti Pribumi has been allocated 52 seats, DAP has 35 seats while Parti Amanah Negara has 27 seats.</s>KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia 's opposition alliance named former premier Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday as its prime ministerial candidate for a general election this year, although the authoritarian who ran the country for two decades and is now 92 years old faces an uphill task.With the country's most popular opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in jail, Mahathir is seen as the biggest threat for premier Najib Razak , who must call an election by August but is engulfed in a corruption scandal.Still, an independent survey showed the opposition would have difficulty beating Najib, due to divisions within its own camp and unfavourable electoral boundary changes.Mahathir and former foe Anwar have joined up to oust Najib, and an election victory by their alliance could also potentially pave the way for Anwar to return and take over as prime minister.If the opposition wins, it would immediately start the process to obtain a royal pardon for Anwar so that he can be eligible to become prime minister, secretary general Saifuddin Abdullah said at the alliance's convention.Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be the coalition's candidate for deputy prime minister.Mahathir, who during his 22-year tenure as prime minister earned a reputation of being a no-nonsense authoritarian with little time for dissenters promoting liberal values, stands to become the world's oldest leader if the opposition wins.The Mahathir-led opposition, however, looks unlikely to unseat the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, according to a survey conducted by independent polling firm Merdeka Center in December.The survey showed that although BN's share of the popular vote will shrink further, it can potentially regain a two-thirds majority in parliament, The Malaysian Insight reported on Sunday.Merdeka Centre's director Ibrahim Suffian said the Mahathir-led group was at a disadvantage due to a split in the opposition and the redrawing of electoral boundaries that critics say favour the ruling government.The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), which was part of the opposition group in 2013, is no longer part of the pact."We are highly sceptical of the opposition's prospects if they continue to be split as things are now," Ibrahim said.Malaysia's political landscape has been shaped for nearly two decades by a bitter feud between Anwar and Mahathir.Anwar was once a protege of Mahathir, and the rising star of Malaysian politics, but they had a falling out in the late 1990s. Anwar was jailed on charges of sodomy and graft, after being sacked as the deputy prime minister. He denied the charges, dismissing them as politically motivated.Anwar later led an opposition alliance to stunning electoral gains in 2013. Najib's coalition lost the popular vote in that election, but won a majority of the seats in parliament.Anwar was convicted and jailed again in 2013 for sodomy, a charge he says is an attempt to end his career.The sodomy conviction disqualifies Anwar from political office and from contesting the next election. A royal pardon, however, would let him contest.Opposition to Najib has brought Anwar and Mahathir back together.Najib has been embroiled in a corruption scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). In civil lawsuits, the U.S. Justice Department has alleged that about $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB.The fund has denied any wrongdoing and Najib, who founded 1MDB, has denied all allegations of corruption against him and was cleared of wrongdoing by Malaysia's attorney-general.
The Pakatan Harapan alliance chooses 92-year-old former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad as their candidate Prime Minister in the upcoming Malaysian general election. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be released from jail on June 8. Mahathir and Anwar join forces in the election.