Shafie is still a PM candidate, says Dr Mahathir


Zaim Ibrahim

Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Mohd Shafie Apdal remains a prime minister candidate for the opposition even though the Warisan Coalition he leads lost the Sabah elections last night. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, September 27, 2020.

MOHD Shafie Apdal is still a candidate for prime minister despite his Warisan Plus pact having lost the Sabah elections, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“He (Shafie Apdal) is still one of the candidates,” he told The Malaysian Insight in Langkawi today while commenting on the outcome of last night’s state polls.

The Langkawi MP said he was disappointed with the outcome.

“I am disappointed. I had hoped the Sabah people would reject those who tried to use unlawful means to take over the state government by buying over those who jumped parties,” he said.

The Pejuang founder said this appeared not to be the case.

He said if this becomes the norm then it will spell the end of democracy in Malaysia.

Dr Mahahtir said, with this, whoever with the money can buy over governments both at the federal and state levels.

In yesterday’s elections, parties in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) won a total 38 seats, enabling them to form a government with a simple majority.

Their closest rival, the Warisan Plus coalition, won 30 seats, with component parties DAP and Upko winning six and one each, while ally PKR snatched two seats.

This gives them a total of 32 seats overall. 

Independents won three seats.

GRS is made up of Perikatan Nasional who won 17 seats, Barisan Nasional (14) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (7).

In June, Dr Mahathri proposed Shafie as prime minister should Pakatan Harapan take power again. It was accepted by DAP and Amanah as an alternative to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

But PKR insists that Anwar should be the only choice for the position.

On Wednesday, Anwar announced that he can form a government after claiming that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had lost the majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Anwar said he had a “strong, formidable” majority from MPs to change the federal government, but did not state the exact numbers when pressed several times by journalists.

He said he would only reveal the numbers to the public after meeting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He said this meeting would be held “soon”, as the king is currently warded at the National Heart Institute. – September 27, 2020.


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Comments


  • The would be "king maker" wants to be "king" instead. SA can't even get the support of Sabahans and he has delusions of grandeur to blackmail Malaysians. Padam muka.

    I suppose it would be karma for PBS to do a SA. Offer to join Warisan+ to form a government, but only if the CM comes from their party, much like Warisan will join PH but only if SA becomes the PM. :-D

    Posted 3 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • How can someone who lost his Chief Minister position be a candidate for PM? He cant even keep his state how is he going to rule the nation?

    Posted 3 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply