‘Pakatan Plus’ stymied over Dr Mahathir as PM candidate

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 16 Jun 2020 3:52PM · 12 Comments

Pakatan Harapan allies are stuck whether to support Dr Mahathir Mohamad (right) as prime minister again for six or 12 months if snap elections are called. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 16, 2020.

PAKATAN Harapan (PH) is in a limbo again as its parties cannot agree to how long Dr Mahathir Mohamad should stay on as prime minister, should the coalition return to power, sources told The Malaysian Insight.

After managing to agree that Dr Mahathir should be prime minister with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as his deputy, the pact is now stuck on a timeline.

The coalition now comprises PKR, DAP and Amanah, and allies Parti Warisan Sabah and Dr Mahathir’s faction from Bersatu.

Dubbed “PH Plus”, leaders met last Saturday to cobble together an agreement as part of preparations for possible snap polls, as the current Perikatan Nasional government teeters on a slim majority.

At the meeting, a suggestion was made that Dr Mahathir be prime minister for a year instead of the six months originally proposed, a source said.

It cannot be verified which party had proposed six months and 12 months.

The proposal for Dr Mahathir as prime minister for six months was first made at the June 9 meeting.

This meeting did not reach a unanimous agreement on Dr Mahathir even being the prime minister candidate.

Just as PKR warmed up to the idea because of the six-month limit, the party was shocked by the suggestion on Saturday that Dr Mahathir stay on for a full year.

“We thought the issue of accepting him as prime minister could be resolved last Saturday, but the 12-month timeline has put everyone in limbo again,” said a PKR source.

“Before the decision can finalised by all the five parties involved, the goal post has been moved again.”

The source said the proposal for the 94-year-old to reprise the role of prime minister came as a surprise at first, as Dr Mahathir had resigned on February 23 after his party Bersatu withdrew from PH against his wishes.

His resignation triggered the collapse of the PH government and enabled Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to replace Dr Mahathir as prime minister and formed the Perikatan Nasional government.

“So, the suggestion that he wants to become prime minister again was surprising,” the PKR source said.

“PH Plus” was scheduled to meet today to resolve the issue but it was cancelled as Sabah Chief Minister and Warisan president Shafie Apdal could not attend.

Following the change of government in February, PH is currently re-organising itself to face Perikatan Nasional in snap polls.

The Straits Times quoted Bersatu supreme council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan saying last week that Muhyiddin might call for fresh elections to get a fresh mandate.

Currently, the Perikatan Nasional government is made up of 115 MPs comprising Barisan Nasional (43), Bersatu (33), PAS (18), GPS (18) and four from Sabah.

The opposition has 107 MPs, comprising DAP (42), PKR (37), Amanah (11), Warisan (9), Upko (1) and nine independents.

However, one from PKR (Lubok Antu) quit the party recently and declared support for Muhyiddin’s government. – June 16, 2020.

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Comments

  • what a sad state of affairs.. how to govern the country like this..

    Posted 3 years ago by Noor Azhar Kamaruddin · Reply

  • I would say Tun should stay until GE15 and then Anwar can take over as PH's PM candidate if PH wins the election. All parties will be happy with outcome except Anwar but this is the time that Tun needs to see thru the legal cases pending on the kleptocrats.

    Posted 3 years ago by Super Duper · Reply

    • Six months is definitely too short to do much agree with your suggestion that AI take over at next GE 15. Let Tun finished till end of term.

      Posted 3 years ago by Justin Leno · Reply

  • If AI doesn't have the number and wanted to be in govt, he has no choice but to let go the PM w role, but again he can be the DPM and nobody knows how long Dr M can stay fit to be the PM. So AI can use up his DPM role to garner Malay support and Malaysian support to lead in GE 15. Better choice and better chance to garner public support rather than fighting alone. Lets admit it that rakyat are not happy or not keen to allow AI to be the PM if they can make a change. So AI must clear all obstacles that are blocking his candidacy as PM. This is the positive way to build public support. Not liateN8ng to your 38 MPs voices which can't turn the table alone.

    Posted 3 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • In politic the reality is nobody gives any post to anybody. U find your ways and engineer your way creatively so thatv peple have no choice but cant object u to be the PM. This is the real story and pragmatic approach to secure political power.

    Posted 3 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • The combo is not for the GE15, Malaysia Insight. Don't simply write. It is for taking over the Government from Muhyiddin's government. If for GE15, it could Anwar Ibrahim as the PM.

    Posted 3 years ago by Penganalisa L · Reply

  • Entire PH, PN, BN no new blood at all? Give the Rakyat something new.

    Posted 3 years ago by A Subscriber · Reply

    • Agree.. new young capable leader.. just like Canada and Sweden. Fresh new leadership for the new digital age.

      Posted 3 years ago by Noor Azhar Kamaruddin · Reply

  • You better hurry up lah.

    The Moo (or Najib?) dragnet has started already.

    MPs arrested, hauled up, Mkini editor under probe....where do you think this is heading?

    Posted 3 years ago by Mirchu Jegavan · Reply

  • Doesnt give Anwar much time to win the hearts and mind of the people for GE15 if Mahathir messes up again and he probably will.

    Posted 3 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Be bald get a younger generation of leaders and have a new PM who will be like the Canada's Trudeau who has appointed a panel of professionals to form an efficient cabinet.

    Posted 3 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Its this lack of unity in the opposition that allowed BN to rule for over 60 years. Enough! Get your act together before the country is plundered again and injustice makes an unwelcome return.

    Posted 3 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply