Aziz Would Have Become PM If He Was Able To Influence Me, Says Dr M

SHAH ALAM, March 3 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today scoffed at suggestions that he had been influenced by Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin in sacking Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the deputy prime minister in 1998.

"It had nothing to do with him. If he could have influenced me as claimed, he would have become prime minister. The fact is, the action was taken based on information from the police and after thorough discussions with all Menteris Besar and members of Umno's Supreme Council," he told reporters after making a visit to the Barisan Nasional's election machinery for the Shah Alam parliamentary seat here today.

Aziz is the BN's incumbent for the seat in the March 8 general election.

He said this in responding to allegations by the opposition that Aziz, who is Rural and Regional Development Minister, had influenced him to sack Anwar when he (Aziz) was Dr Mahathir's political secretary then.

On claims by opposition parties saying that he felt remorse for having sacked Anwar, Dr Mahathir said:"They are a little bit slow on the uptake as they are unable to discern what I mean when I say something. He was caught by the police, tried in court and sent to jail. I was not the judge, jury and executioner."

Asked about how the BN would perform in this election, he reiterated what he said two days ago, that it would do better than 1999 but not as good as 2004.

Dr Mahathir also reminded BN candidates who won in the election to work hard for the people and when the time came for them to go, make way for fresh blood to allow an orderly transition of leadership.

Aziz is involved in a straight fight against PAS' Khalid Abd Samad for the seat while Ahmad Nawawi M.Zin and Salamon Selamat are contesting the two state seats in it for the BN.

Ahmad Nawawi will face Yaakob Sapari for the Kota Anggerik seat while Salamon will square off against Rodziah Ismail. Both the opponents are from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

-- BERNAMA