IT would be treasonous if those in power denied Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) victory should it win in the 14th general election, said PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

He was responding to a question received online during a fundraising dinner held by Invoke, which asked what would happen if Prime Minister Najib Razak decides to cling onto power even if the ruling coalition loses the 14th general election (GE14).

“It looks quite clear that he is heading towards a defeat. It’s stupid of us not to consider that if we were in his shoes that we would not plan for plan B, plan C or plan D to cling on to power, because the consequences of defeat to Najib is a lot worse compared to ours,” he told the crowd during the dinner in Kuala Lumpur.

He then cited a coup d’etat in Turkey, saying that if it were to happen in Malaysia and failed, it would be treason and the only punishment would be death by hanging.

He also said if the prime minister ordered the police and armed forces to seize power should Barisan Nasional lose GE14, then it constitutes treason.

“And if the public goes to the streets and prevails, and the lower ranks of military and police refused to take part in the coup d’etat, then it means death by hanging to the top ranks.

“We give this message across to the top ranks, so long as we keep telling the generals (and) top police chiefs that should you follow Najib’s instructions to deny a legitimate election win for PH, it’s treason,” he added.

Meanwhile, on Dr Mahathir Mohamad as PH prime minister candidate, Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen said the former prime minister had witnessed the damage Najib had done and now he wants to undo it for the betterment of the country.

“He’s proud man and he should be proud because he was prime minister for 22 years. You don’t expect proud people to apologize for the past.

“We have to accept and respect old people because they were at that time the best that Malaysia could have.

“He had seen the damage Najib has done and understands how the process came to be and he wants to turn it around, for that we have to accept him as the future designate prime minister of PH and I hope you all can accept this too,” he added.

Dr Mahathir was nominated as PH’s prime minister candidate should the pact wins GE14, which must be held by August.

He had also told Japanese daily The Mainichi that he would be the prime minister for two years at most as he is already 92-years-old. – February 4, 2018.