Don't dance with wolves, Anwar told as old spat with mentor continues

Six years ago, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and veteran leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad put aside decades of enmity, joining forces to take on then prime minister Najib Razak ahead of the historic election in May 2018. 

But today, after a series of events including the collapse of the first Pakatan Harapan (PH) government on the back of a promised handover of power that never took place, it appears that the truce is over. 

With Anwar at the head of another PH-led government and Mahathir on the political sidelines after a failed bid at the Nov 9 polls last year, the skirmishes have resumed over a variety of issues, from Malay rights and the cost of living to the appointment of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as deputy prime minister. 

For political observer A Kadir Jasin, however, the stakes are much higher on one side than they are on the other. 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, the veteran journalist said it was not politically wise for Anwar to keep up the conflict with his former mentor. 

"If this continues, Anwar could lose everything while Mahathir won't lose a thing," he said. 

"Mahathir is free to say whatever he wants because he no longer holds any position or power." 

Mahathir, who joined hands with PH in 2017 under his party at the time, Bersatu, contested the 15th general election on a Pejuang ticket. 

He failed to defend his Langkawi seat, losing his deposit along with the rest of the Pejuang candidates. 

Several months later, he announced his exit from the party alongside 12 other members, joining Malay party Putra instead. 

Since then, he and Anwar have tangled over the cancellation of the Malay Proclamation event, the government's treatment of the Malays in general, and the state of the economy.

Mahathir has also accused his one-time protege of stifling dissent and running a cruel dictatorship while Anwar has made allusions about Mahathir's family wealth – an issue currently the subject of a threatened lawsuit. 

Kadir said Anwar should refrain from speaking on the matter if he had no proof. 

"Enough dancing with the wolves, whether it's an old wolf or a young wolf," he said. 

"If he doesn't want to lose to Mahathir, who already lost at GE15, and if he has the necessary proof, he should just take action against him. 

"The people will surely back him," he added. 

Former senior editor Zin Mahmud meanwhile said Anwar should not entertain Mahathir's jibes. 

Zin, who was with Utusan Malaysia, said it was a waste of time and a distraction from the administrative matters that require Anwar's attention. 

"The older generation like myself who have already lived through one era of fights between Anwar and Mahathir are tired of this kind of behaviour," he said. 

"Mahathir's era is over. He has already been rejected at the polls."

Ahmad Atory Hussain of Universiti Sains Malaysia meanwhile said the GE14 truce between the two leaders had been short-lived, ending with the collapse of the government after 22 months. 

"Mahathir will continue to say what he wants, whether on a party platform or as an individual," he said. 

"This conflict between them will only end when one of them is no longer around."