Pakatan fails to reach consensus on PM candidate

Observers: This is due to lack of confidence in Dr M, Pas calls him a ‘recycled candidate’.

THE opposition pact’s indecisiveness with regard to the appointment of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its prime ministerial candidate in the runup to the Pakatan Harapan convention tomorrow showed a lack of confidence in the 92-year-old politician.

Political analyst Associate Professor Dr Jeniri Amir pointed out that the failure to reach a consensus stemmed from protests by factions in PKR that were hesitant to reconcile with the former prime minister over his alleged wrongdoings against jailed PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I am sure they will not let a man, whom they had previously accused of making a mess of the nation’s development, to come into power again.

“I shudder to think what will happen if the opposition forms the Federal Government since they could not even decide on who should be the prime minister.

“If they keep bickering among themselves on this matter, how can they lead the country?”

Several opposition leaders, including DAP central executive member Liew Ching Tong and Parti Amanah Negara deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, could not be contacted for comments.

Dr Mahathir, who is both the pact’s and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman, had told a media conference on Thursday that the candidate would be revealed after tomorrow’s convention.

On the heels of major expectations on the announcement, a number of media reports, including those by pro-opposition portals, claimed that there was “confusion” on when the candidate would be revealed.

Speculation was also rife that Anwar had, through a letter, advised against it from being publicised due to the need for a “consensus” in resolving issues.

Another analyst, Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi, said the fact that Dr Mahathir was considered a candidate showed that pact leaders were in a state of ambivalence over the matter.

He said Dr Mahathir was the subject of mockery among opposition leaders when the latter led the ruling coalition.

“This is the same man the opposition leaders had once loathed and slammed for his iron-fisted administration.

“And, it is obvious that there are quarters in Pakatan Harapan who are having mixed feelings about Dr Mahathir becoming the opposition’s choice of prime minister since they could not come to a consensus on the matter,” he said.

However, a highly-placed source in the pact claimed that it had finalised its pick during Thursday’s meeting.

The source said only one candidate from the pact would be named, but the post’s controversial status as “interim” would be redacted, in efforts to allay concerns that the alliance’s venture into the polls was rudderless.

However, it is suggested that the person who would take up the candidate’s mantle would, in fact, remain an interim, following sentiments among grassroots members, particularly those from PKR, that the position should be reserved for Anwar.

“Interim? It depends on how you define the term ‘interim’. Yes, we have finalised our pick. But, the prime minister candidate we have now might only hold the post up to three years, before being replaced by someone else.

“Moreover, the Constitution does not provide for the appointment of an interim prime minister post-election.

“And, we cannot let our supporters keep questioning the direction of our campaign without a leading figure,” the source said.

Another source claimed that there would be no announcements on candidates for the position of deputy prime minister.

“We will let the prime minister candidate decide on the matter. If we move to announce a candidate for the No.2 position, we will risk having people compare the two (prime minister and deputy prime minister candidates), on who would make a better prime minister instead.”

I am sure they will not let a man, whom they had previously accused of making a mess of the nation’s development, to come into power again. I shudder to think what will happen if the opposition forms the Federal Government...

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR JENIRI AMIR

Political analyst