IPOH - Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reveals he was offered the position of Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.
He said Anwar, at the time, believed that the prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would step down and give the leadership of the country to him.
He explained unfortunately, the matter happened the other way around as he was sacked as DPM when he fought with Mahathir.
"Anwar said Mahathir would not stay long, he will step down (as prime minister). After the Commonwealth Games, I (Anwar) would become Prime Minister and you will be my DPM. This was the story that was never told, he said it to me.
"Then he (Anwar) came to visit me in my office when I was the prime minister. I told him, I apologise Anwar, now I am the prime minister.
"You will never become prime minister as long as you're friends with DAP because the Malays will reject you," he said during his speech at the Tambun PN Parliament Jelajah PN Best Programme in Bandar Meru Raya, here, on Sunday.
The others that spoke during the programme were Central Pas Election Director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, Perak PN Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Perak Pas Commissioner Razman Zakaria and Perak Gerakan Chairman Datuk See Tean Seng.
He said now Anwar still aspired to become prime minister and hopes to win contesting in the Tambun Parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Muhyiddin acknowledged Anwar as his friend and said he was also confident that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman would have difficulties becoming prime minister because he had left the government for 20 years.
"If after 20 years of leaving the government administration and you want to return to sit as the prime minister, I think that is quite difficult to understand the policy and actions. I understand that.
"Without certain experience in managing our country faced with the large risks. Otherwise, with such situations, the main problems of the people could not be solved in a period according to how fast the people would want it," he said.