Sources say Umno president wants party to back Mahathir remaining in office as PM

Almost immediately after he was installed as Prime Minister, questions were raised over whether Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (pictured) would eventually hand the reins to former nemesis Mr Anwar Ibrahim.
Almost immediately after he was installed as Prime Minister, questions were raised over whether Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (pictured) would eventually hand the reins to former nemesis Mr Anwar Ibrahim.PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Malaysia Bureau Chief
  • Updated
    Feb 5, 2020, 6:17 am
  • Published
    Feb 4, 2020, 7:39 pm SGT
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KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's largest party, Umno, is set to back Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's remaining in office, in what would be a huge blow to hopes that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will ascend to the premiership around May under a deal agreed by the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition for a mid-term transition.

Party sources told The Straits Times that Umno president Zahid Hamidi, who was previously allied to Mr Anwar, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president, now wants his party to support their former leader, Tun Dr Mahathir.

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