Does Tun Dr. Mahathir Support Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister?

As of my last knowledge update in August 2023, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, a prominent figure in Malaysian politics, expressed criticism of Anwar Ibrahim, particularly regarding Anwar's leadership and policies. Mahathir, a former Prime Minister of Malaysia, has had a complex relationship with Anwar, marked by both cooperation and conflict over the years.

The Political Turmoil After the 2020 Sheraton Move

Rapid political developments in Malaysia in 2020, including the so-called Shheraton Move, led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. Mahathir's support for Anwar's bid for Prime Minister was generally viewed as unlikely, given their historical rivalry and Mahathir's own political ambitions. Despite this, there has been a change in Mhathir's views as evidenced by Anwar's successful re-election to the Prime Ministership and his ongoing efforts at coalition-building.

Political Trends and Anwar's Leadership

Recently, Anwar has garnered relative success at the polls and in coalition-building, even obtaining the formal approval of the Palace. This success suggests that the perception of Mahathir and Anwar as rivals may be undergoing a shift, driven by current political trends and the changing landscape of Malaysian politics. However, the deep-seated differences between the two may make a reconciliation challenging, especially in light of Mahathir's advancing age and his perceived irrelevance in current political discourse.

The Divide Between Globalist and Malay Nationalist Ideologies

The core of the disagreement between Mahathir and Anwar lies in their fundamentally different ideologies for economic growth and sustainability. Anwar is increasingly seen as a globalist, aligning with the World Bank and IMF, and the broader rule-based globalist world order. In contrast, Mahathir is a Malay nationalist, driven by a vision of "Look East," which emphasizes government intervention and economic progress oriented towards Malaysia.

The Historical Divide

The divide between the two is evident in their past political interactions. During the late 1990s, Anwar, then Finance Minister, participated in a joint IMF-World Bank meeting in Hong Kong, while Mahathir made a sharp criticism of George Soros, whom he blamed for the Asian Financial Crisis. This disagreement suggested a fundamental ideological difference that has persisted.

Going forward, it is unlikely that Mahathir will support Anwar for Prime Minister purely based on their ideological differences. However, as Inter-Parliamentarian Relations and Politics often present unexpected alliances, the situation is not entirely closed.

Note: For the most current stance of Mahathir regarding Anwar's leadership or any political developments beyond August 2023, I recommend checking the latest news sources.