Malaysiakini - Anwar: Daim can contribute, but must be mindful of past scandals (extracts):
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During the days before there was a Bersatu, former finance minister Daim Zainuddin was one of the individuals whom PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim singled out for being corrupt.
Even when current Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad quit Umno and launched the Citizen's Declaration with Pakatan Harapan, Anwar had warned his party about cooperating with Daim.
"Both Mahathir and Daim were the architects and aggressive exponents of crony capitalism," Anwar had written in a letter from prison to PKR, made public in May 2016.
However, now that he is a free man and working on the same side as Daim and Mahathir, the PKR leader is taking a more guarded approach when asked about his past statements.
"Daim can contribute but he must be aware. People appreciate that he has joined, but people are also expressing deep consternation that he has been unable to explain some major problems in the past.
"People say there's no need to bring old baggage, which is true, but to me, if you want to talk about democratic accountability, it must not stop at (former prime minister) Najib (Abdul Razak).
"Although I don't think (it should go) to the extent of a vendetta, and endless witch hunt," Anwar said in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini at his residence today.
He added that there are concerns about 'Umno 2.0' creeping in to the current administration. [...]
Anwar has not openly criticised Mahathir (YET) but if the former believes that democratic accountability must not stop at Najib's crimes, and Daim Zainuddin should be made equally accountable, why not extend that to Mahathir's alleged crimes and profligacy?
Those who live by the sword ... you know!
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During the days before there was a Bersatu, former finance minister Daim Zainuddin was one of the individuals whom PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim singled out for being corrupt.
Even when current Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad quit Umno and launched the Citizen's Declaration with Pakatan Harapan, Anwar had warned his party about cooperating with Daim.
"Both Mahathir and Daim were the architects and aggressive exponents of crony capitalism," Anwar had written in a letter from prison to PKR, made public in May 2016.
However, now that he is a free man and working on the same side as Daim and Mahathir, the PKR leader is taking a more guarded approach when asked about his past statements.
"Daim can contribute but he must be aware. People appreciate that he has joined, but people are also expressing deep consternation that he has been unable to explain some major problems in the past.
"People say there's no need to bring old baggage, which is true, but to me, if you want to talk about democratic accountability, it must not stop at (former prime minister) Najib (Abdul Razak).
"Although I don't think (it should go) to the extent of a vendetta, and endless witch hunt," Anwar said in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini at his residence today.
He added that there are concerns about 'Umno 2.0' creeping in to the current administration. [...]
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Anwar has not openly criticised Mahathir (YET) but if the former believes that democratic accountability must not stop at Najib's crimes, and Daim Zainuddin should be made equally accountable, why not extend that to Mahathir's alleged crimes and profligacy?
Those who live by the sword ... you know!
