Singapore state media Straits Times were found to be propagating fake news about the resignation of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The Singapore government-controlled media claimed that the Mahathir resigned because he wanted to sabotage Anwar’s succession.
TThis turned out to be not true, Mahathir resigned from his party because some influential members of the PH government wanted to form a coalition government with UMNO, which is under control of former dictator Najib Razak. According to Malaysia’s Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and confirmed by Anwar, the Malaysian PM refused to work with the UMNO whom he sees as corrupted.
Minister Lim Guan Eng told the Malaysian press:
“Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as Prime Minister because he refuses to work with Umno. This consistency and principled stand in rejecting a corrupt Umno should be supported by all Malaysians. We commend Dr Mahathir’s principled position of refusing to work with Umno whose leaders are involved in corrupt practices and misrule causing Malaysia to be labelled as a global kleptocracy at its worst. This is the first time that a Malaysian Prime Minister is prepared to resign on principle to uphold integrity and combat corruption.”
Singapore state media Straits Times however quoted anonymous sources claiming that the Malaysian PM is in a bitter feud with his successor Anwar Ibrahim.
The Singapore government is trying to influence Malaysian politics, as sabotaging the new Malaysian government will send a warning to Singaporeans wanting to overthrow the PAP dictatorship.