Pakatan names Dr Mahathir as prime minister-designate
Some PKR members protest Dr M’s naming as PM candidate
SHAH ALAM: Despite reports of PKR’s initial reluctance, Pakatan Harapan has unanimously settled on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the candidate for prime minister and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as his deputy should they make it to Putrajaya.
The announcement, which was made by Pakatan secretariat chief Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, saw Dr Mahathir getting choked with emotion before going up to the stage to thank the delegates.
The decision was set in an agree ment of cooperation, which was signed by Dr Mahathir as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) chairman, Dr Wan Azizah as PKR president, Pribumi president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu.
Among others, the agreement stipulated that a Royal Pardon would be obtained for PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim once Pa
SHAH ALAM: Mixed signals have emerged from the Pakatan Harapan convention despite the announcement that the four partner parties agreed on several issues such as seat allocations that will be contested in the next general election.
PKR’s position in the Opposition front was “demoted” to second place when Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia was allocated 52 seats to be contested by the Opposition in the general election – the highest number in Pakatan. PKR was allocated 51 seats.
The matter worsened when Pakatan picked Pribumi chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the prime minister if Pakatan wins the general election.
PKR members protested at the main entrance of the IDCC Convention Centre where the event was held.
A group of PKR members demanded that jailed party adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim be named prime minister, and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail named deputy prime minister.
This outburst contradicted the shouts of unity made by the respective Pakatan leaders during the convention.
When contacted, some PKR members who did not attend the convention wanted party deputy president and Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, and not even Anwar, to be the prime minister if and when Pakatan forms the Federal Government.
Dr Mahathir’s feeble response at the press conference on naming Anwar as prime minister raised questions whether he was chosen due to consensus or alleged arm-twisting by Pribumi.
When pressed for a reply, Dr Mahathir said there were processes that had to be met before Anwar takes over from him as prime minister.
To a question if he would serve one full term as prime minister or vacate earlier to make way for Anwar, Dr Mahathir said he was 92 years old and anything could happen.