Despite rivalry, I approved RM486k for Dr M's Japan trip, Anwar says

Summary

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he approved RM486,000 for former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s trip to Japan to attend the annual Nikkei conference last month.

• Despite being a political rival, Anwar stresses that ex-premiers are entitled to apply for funds for such trips, subject to the sitting PM’s approval.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed that the government had allocated RM486,000 for former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s trip to Japan to attend the annual Nikkei conference last month.

He said the government decided to bear the cost after receiving a formal application from Mahathir, who is one of the Tambun MP’s fiercest critics.

“There are existing provisions for former prime ministers to apply (for government support for official travel)... and if the sitting prime minister approves, the government will bear the cost, including for Mahathir, who recently requested to attend the Nikkei conference in Japan.

“He applied, and I approved. I believe the delegation was around seven people.

“I have people asking me, why pay for him. He is entitled to apply, but the decision rests with the sitting prime minister… and I decided to approve that RM486,000 for him to go to Japan.

“I just don’t want anyone to misunderstand… I just don’t want to take a negative attitude. Despite his daily criticisms of the government, we still approved his application,” Bernama reported Anwar as saying today.

The PKR president said this to reporters on the sidelines of a party event in Malacca earlier today.

Chequered history

In 1998, Mahathir, during his first tenure as prime minister, sacked Anwar from the cabinet.

Anwar was later arrested and convicted of corruption charges, which many have alleged to have been politically motivated.

Prior to the 2018 general election, Mahathir reconciled with Anwar and the former led Pakatan Harapan to win the general election.

However, friction emerged between the duo after Mahathir reneged on his promise to hand over the premiership to Anwar.

In February 2020, the Harapan government collapsed after Mahathir resigned as prime minister, and then-Harapan coalition party Bersatu, as well as several PKR MPs, left to join PAS and form a new federal government under Perikatan Nasional.

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