PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Anwar Ibrahim was endorsed by Pejuang to become the next prime minister when four lawmakers in the party signed statutory declarations in support of him, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Pejuang chairman said they had signed the SDs in the hopes that Anwar would get enough support.

“There are only four MPs in Pejuang and we signed the SD to support him. But he didn’t get it,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Earlier today, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong announced that Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be sworn in as the 9th prime minister tomorrow.

The announcement came in a statement issued by Istana Negara just after the Agong had chaired a two-hour special meeting with Malay Rulers on the matter.

Dr Mahathir, however, believes that Anwar is a person who will not give up pursuing the prime minister’s post.

“(Former prime minister) Najib Razak and (Umno president) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, I believe, are finished (i.e. will not become PM).

“Anwar is a person who will fight until the end. It won’t be long before Anwar comes with more supporters than Ismail Sabri.”

As for Ismail Sabri’s leadership, Dr Mahathir said that he doesn’t have vast experience.

“But, as far as we know, he is not involved in any dealings like Najib. If he (Ismail Sabri) becomes cash is king’, then it will be the same as before.”

On working with the new Cabinet when it is formed, Dr Mahathir said Pejuang is not interested in any positions.

“We are now affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin implementing the Emergency, the cases are still high.

“We have made suggestions but they were not heard. For Pejuang, that is our fight, which is to tackle the pandemic, social and economic issues.”

The Langkawi MP said they will support Ismail Sabri if he sets up the National Recovery Council.

“That (NRC) we will support. But if he wants to table policies (in Parliament), we have to see what they are first.

“We cannot simply say that we outright support him.”

On August 3, Dr Mahathir pleaded with the former government to allow him to set up the NRC.

He said the government could not handle the Covid-19 pandemic so they suggested the setting up of the council to tackle the issue.

Dr Mahathir, however, said his proposal was shut down. – August 20, 2021.