Malaysian PM voices support for Anwar’s return as lawmaker
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Friday he endorsed a move by his designated successor, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest a byelection to return as a lawmaker, and reiterated that he would keep his word to hand over power to Anwar.
Anwar and Mahathir put aside their 20-year-old political feud to help their alliance win elections in May that led to the first change of power since independence from Britain in 1957.
Anwar, who was convicted in 2015 on sodomy charges, couldn’t take part in the elections but their four-party alliance agreed that Mahathir would be prime minister and then hand over the reins to Anwar. Anwar, 70, was freed and pardoned by the king shortly after the polls.
Anwar plans to contest a byelection in a southern coastal town after a lawmaker from his party resigned earlier this week to make way for his comeback. The Election Commission will set a date for the vote, which must be held within two months.