Talks with BN: ‘Anwar has own agenda?’

Vignesh Kumar

| December 9, 2013

According to political analyst Prof Dr Mohamed Mustafa, Umno members know Anwar Ibrahim too well and will never allow for his return.

PETALING JAYA: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s offer to hold talks with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is being dissected by all quarters with the latest view coming Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak who said that it was part of a “plot” for the PKR leader’s return to Umno.

Mohamed Mustafa, who is also National Council of Professors’ head of the politics, security and international affairs cluster, said Anwar was “trying to get back into power through the back door”.

“Anwar’s sudden call for a dialogue with Najib looks very suspicious. Why call for a dialogue only now?

“I believe Anwar has his own agenda. If he talks about national issues then it is good but I don’t think that is Anwar’s real intention.

“It is Anwar’s trick to gain support,” Mohamed Mustafa asked.

The UUM academic was of the view that Anwar was trying to emulate Najib.

“He wants to show the rakyat that he is a good leader like Najib. But Umno members will never welcome him back. They know him too well,” he told FMT.

Najib-Anwar must talk

Meanwhile, independent political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said Anwar and Najib should talk in the interest of the people.

Khoo said it was time for them to sit and discuss about national issues.

He suggested they should talk about the contentious goods and services tax (GST), the country’s socio-economic status and ways of improving the standards of living of Malaysians.

Khoo said it was time for them to “jointly” look into the well-being of the rakyat.

“Najib must work together with the opposition leader for the betterment of the rakyat.

“Najib claims we are a democratic nation then he must be open to suggestions from the opposition.

“Even in the parliament the opposition have no freedom to voice out,” Khoo said adding that it was time to put their personal agenda aside.

On Friday, Anwar had lauded Najib’s speech at the Umno annual general assembly, where the PM had said Umno would always extend a welcoming hand to any political parties.

Following that Anwar said Pakatan was ready to sit down with Najib to discuss national issues.

“On Sept 19, the Pakatan Rakyat leadership had already announced that we are ready to engage with Barisan Nasional, which is in line with what Najib said yesterday,” Anwar had said.