Umno information chief Annuar Musa said Dr Mahathir Mohamad is willing to do anything, including using others to achieve his personal political agenda.

Annuar said the former prime minister is a strategist and throughout the latter’s long political career, the goal always justified the means.

“He is a strategist. We need to see a few steps ahead, including what was done recently (the Mahathir Declaration which aims to oust Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak).

“For Dr Mahathir (in conspiring with the opposition), the end justifies the means, and he is an expert in using other people to realise his goals,” he said when appearing as a guest on the talkshow ‘Soal Jawab’ on TV3, at Sri Pentas, yesterday.

Annuar, who is also Ketereh MP, said Mahathir’s political game could also be seen throughout his (Dr Mahathir) reign as the country’s fourth prime minister.

“There was a time, he did not like Tengku Razaleigh, or Ku Li for some reason. Imagine, Ku Li, who built the PWTC (Putra World Trade Centre), governed the party’s expenses, who was also vice-president (at the time), but Mahathir did not like his (Ku Li) way.

“Because he did not want to have Ku Li, therefore, with his political acumen, the position was contested, and he directly gave his support to Musa Hitam to defeat Ku Li,” he said.

Annuar claimed, however, after Dr Mahathir got uncomfortable with Musa’s influence, he began using Ghafar Baba to get rid of Musa.

But after that, Dr Mahathir changed course again, and gave support to Anwar Ibrahim to win the post of deputy president of Umno, by sidelining Ghafar.

“When Anwar became politically strong, building up his own power which eventually raised more concerns, Dr Mahathir again used the same strategy and game to get rid of Anwar,” he said.

Annuar said Dr Mahathir once again used Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, or Pak Lah, a Penangite, by making him the deputy president, and eventually the next prime minister.

“The move was made with the hope that power still remained in the hands of Dr Mahathir, until there came a point he did not like Pak Lah any more, so Najib was used. And now, he uses (former deputy prime minister and suspended Umno deputy president) Muhyiddin Yassin to arrange everything to ensure that his efforts to topple Najib succeeds.

“In view of the failed attempt, Dr Mahathir came up with the declaration (on Friday). In fact, he is even willing to cooperate with the opposition after not being able to garner support within Umno, including the issue of the dismissal of his son, Mukhriz (as menteri besar of Kedah),” he claimed.

Annuar added that Mahathir’s actions clearly did not symbolise his struggle for the party, but rather of personal grudges, interests and agenda.

- Bernama