Anwar dismisses talk he is too old to be leader
PUTRAJAYA: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president-elect Anwar Ibrahim dismissed talk that he is too old to be a leader and no longer relevant.
"There are certain quarters who say I am getting old and no longer relevant because I'm cynical and reject younger leadership," said the 71-year-old at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on Sunday.
"However I am also the leader who gives the most opportunities to younger leaders."
He added that he is insistent that these young leaders do not "trample" upon the people who support them, reported The Star.
"We should not just emphasise ideas, but values - to reject oppression, bribery and arrogance," he said.
FORGIVENESS
Defending Islam as a religion that promotes compassion and forgiveness, he also said he had put behind him what had happened previously between him and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, reported the Star.
He dismissed talk that Dr Mahathir would not make way for him to become the next prime minister due to the duo's history, reported the New Straits Times.
"When Dr Mahathir came to see me to talk about an alliance as Pakatan Harapan. I put our past behind. What is the point of being hard?
"Therefore, we have come to an agreement that he will be made prime minister should PH win the general elections and the position will be handed over to me later.
"I know there's talk that I will not be made PM spreading out there but these people seemed to have forgotten that we have agreed to this in our 'reform agenda'," he added.
The PH agreement states that Dr Mahathir would step down and hand over the role of prime minister to Mr Anwar in two years, the New Straits Times reported.
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