THERE is no May deadline for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to hand over the reins to Anwar Ibrahim, said Pakatan Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah.

“Although the PH presidential council agreed on January 6, 2018 that Anwar will take over from Dr Mahathir and become the eighth prime minister, it did not specify any dates.

“Hence, the issue of a power transition in May 2020 does not arise,” he said in a statement today.

Dr Mahathir, on December 10 last year, said he will hand over power to PKR president Anwar after this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) conference, added Saifuddin.

Malaysia will host the 2020 Apec Summit in Kuala Lumpur in November.

Dr Mahathir will be the only prime minister to host the Apec meet twice, with the first held in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

“Any questions about the power transition should be left to the PH presidential council to decide,” said Saifuddin.

He was responding to PKR central committee member and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who urged the PH top leadership to commit to a May handover.

“This is something that needs to be done for the sake of our country,” said Nik Nazmi in a statement today.

“Whether it is my constituents, the civil service or the business community, they want a clear answer on this matter.” – January 3, 2020.