CALLS from Pakatan Harapan allies for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to step down have prompted Bersatu youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman to slam his comrades and demand that they stop badgering the prime minister to hasten his retirement.

“Stop demanding for our democratically elected Prime Minister to step down and please respect Pakatan’s consensus!” the youth and sports minister said in a Facebook post today.

In the post, Syed Saddiq asked Anwar Ibrahim’s supporters why they kept questioning Dr Mahathir’s position as the prime minister when PH had already achieved consensus that he would hand over to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Syed Saddiq named as Anwar’s supporters, Ramkarpal Singh, Dr P. Ramasamy, Johari Abdul, Ronnie Liu, Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, Akmal Nasir, Rafizi Ramli, Syukri Razab and Dr Syed Husin Ali.

“Since last year, they have questioned his (Dr Mahathir’s) position while ignoring the Pakatan consensus.

“How can Dr Mahathir administer the country when he is pressured and attacked by Anwar’s supporters every day?” said Syed Saddiq, who is also PH Youth chief.

Ramkarpal is the brother of Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh and the Bukit Gelugor MP while Ramasamy is Penang Deputy Chief Minister II. Liu is the Sg Pelek assemblyman. All three are from DAP.

Ramkarpal earlier today issued a statement calling for the power transition timeline to be clearly defined as the issue was creating tension in PH.

On the PKR side, Johari is Sungai Petani MP leading the backbenchers while Sani is the Kapar MP. Akmal is the Johor Bahru MP and PKR Youth chief and Rafizi is a PKR vice-president. 

Syukri is the PKR youth secretary while Syed Husin is  Anwar’s mentor and formerly the PKR deputy president.

Syukri earlier today also issued a statement in response to Dr Mahathir’s warning yesterday that PH could be a one-term government if it didn’t change. Syukri said the solution was for the 94-year-old leader to step down.

Syed Saddiq described these calls as irresponsible and indisciplined. 

He said Dr Mahathir had never said he would renege on his word to transfer power to Anwar.

“Each time he is asked, Dr Mahathir has always said that he would resign for Anwar.

“Even when he is attacked left and right, he has remained steadfast in his decision,” said Syed Saddiq.

In a veiled reference to the infighting in PKR, Syed Saddiq ended his post by saying: “Get your house in order”. 

The transition from Dr Mahathir to Anwar does not have a fixed timeline and this lack of clarify has dogged both men since PH won federal power, although both have repeatedly assured that the hand over was on track.

In December last year, however, Dr Mahathir hinted that the transition would likely take place after November 2020, when Malaysia hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum.

This has prompted Anwar’s supporters to press for a handover in May instead of November. – January 21, 2020.