PAKATAN Harapan has nominated PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as its candidate for prime minister.

Anwar said the decision was reached at a PH presidential meeting yesterday.

He said Dr Mahathir Mohamad was invited to chair the meeting but had refused to do so.

“Following that, the Pakatan presidential council agreed to name Anwar Ibrahim as its prime ministerial candidate.

“Pakatan does not agree with any attempt to form a backdoor government.

“This attempt has seen Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigning as the prime minister, Bersatu leaving Pakatan, and Dr Mahathir stepping down as Bersatu chairman,” Anwar told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

Earlier, interim prime minister Dr Mahathir said that he wants to form an apolitical government to serve the people.

The Langkawi MP said he was of the view that politics and party politics should be set aside in the current trying times.

“If allowed, I will try and form a government that does not side with any party. Only the country’s interest will be given priority.

“I will do this if I am allowed,” he said in a special televised address today. 

Dr Mahathir had resigned as prime minister and as Bersatu chairman on Monday.

Anwar also said that Bersatu’s decision to quit the coalition had prompted Dr Mahathir to resign from his post. – February 26, 2020.