Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (Photo: thestar)Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia’s new Prime Minister MahathirMohamad revealed on May 15 that he may hold the position of premier for one or twoyears and will play a role in the background even after he steps down.
Mahathir, 92, whose four-party coalition has won a shock victory overformer leader Najib Razak, told a Wall Street Journal conference in Tokyo via avideo link from Malaysia that reformist politician and coalition partner AnwarIbrahim would be released from jail on May 16.
Mahathir added that Anwar would need to seek a seat in the parliament afterhis release, and then might be given a cabinet post.
Mahathir sacked Anwar as his deputy prime minister in 1998. Nominally,Anwar is leader of the “Reformasi” (reform) party in the ruling coalition ofMahathir.
In another move, theCouncil of Eminent Persons on May 15 announced the formation of a five-memberCommittee on Institutional Reforms.
It said in a statement that the members of thecommittee are retired judge of the Court of Appeal, Datuk KC Vohrah; retiredjudge of the Court of Appeal and Suhakam commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai;president of the National Patriots Association Brig Gen (Rtd) Datuk MohamedArshad Raji; Tunku Abdul Rahman Professor of Law at University Malaya, EmeritusProf Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi and National Human Rights Society (Hakam)president Datuk S. Ambiga.
The Council of Eminent Persons said the committeewould present its findings and recommendations to the council which would then submitits report to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
It said economic reforms on their own could notbring the desired change unless accompanied by institutional reforms.
The Council of Eminent Persons was established onMay 12 to advise the government on economic and financial matters.-VNA
