ANWAR Ibrahim, the PKR president, has spent a lot of time urging his party to stop speculating on when he will take over from Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

That, however, didn’t stop Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim’s recent call for Dr Mahathir to step down nor PKR members from naming the Port Dickson MP the “eighth PM” at his first town hall in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

At the Kompleks Darul Puteri auditorium in Cheras, he was welcomed by banners showing the 72-year-old as the eighth prime minister.

Another banner also highlighted that this was the launch of a book on Anwar PM Ke-8: Janji Serah Kuasa Yang Mesti Ditepati (Anwar as PM No. 8: A transition promise that must be kept).

And while moderators Che Zam Hamzah and Zahir Hassan didn’t touch on the transition plan, several questions from the floor did ask Anwar what are his plans and how he would lead Pakatan Harapan into the next elections as prime minister.

“Whether we are a one-term government depends on our ability to carry out the reforms we promised.

“And although there are weaknesses in the current government, we have to recognise that changes have already started.

“I’m confident that if we have honest leaders who can beat corruption and avoid leakages, voters will continue to back Pakatan Harapan in the next elections,” he said when asked if PH will be a one-term government.

Those who hold government posts but didn’t share this view should resign, he said. 

Anwar, who has been jailed several times during his political career, also promised to continue defending the poor as prime minister.

“I have been jailed for defending the poor in Baling etc and I will continue to look into their plight.”

But he noted that it was a national effort as the government could not do it alone.

“Corporate leaders need to also chip in. There’s no point that some companies would make billions while their own workers live in terrible conditions,” said Anwar.

He also defended DAP, which is the focal point for the opposition alliance of Malay-based parties Umno and PAS.

“The easy target used to be me but it’s now DAP. But look at it objectively. How can we blame DAP for the quality of education or mosque affairs? 

“Let’s not cover our own weaknesses by blaming another race. The attacks against DAP are really veiled attacks against the Chinese but if they were to say that directly, it would be seen as racist. So they attack DAP.

“It’s not true that DAP is over-dominant in the cabinet. All those in the cabinet have collective responsibility. Even me, who is not in the cabinet, try very hard not to contradict the cabinet directly as I am also a Pakatan Harapan leader.”

Anwar also brushed aside suggestions that his feud with deputy president Azmin Ali is splitting PKR.

“The ‘in-fighting’ is not that serious. Recently, more than 90% of the division leaders announced their support for me. 

“So, how bad can that be when only a few are still sniping at the sidelines?”

Both Dr Mahathir and Anwar have repeatedly stressed that the transition will go on as “planned”. And Anwar has also gone on record to say that it’s a “done deal”.

But for now, Anwar appears to be on a “PM roadshow” with Kuala Terengganu as the next stop on Saturday. – August 21, 2019.