Don't pressure PM or me over transition – Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said both Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and him should not be pressured over the power transition issue.

He said the focus of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council meeting today is on Malaysia’s economy.

He said the transition of power was less of a priority, despite the chorus of calls these past few months pushing for a clear date to be set.

“The transition is part of the deal and it can be resolved in half an hour, Anwar told reporters after speaking at Help University’s symposium on “The Construct of A Nation: As I See it” at the Connexion Conference and Event Centre in Bangsar South yesterday.

Pressed if there were specific dates being looked at for the transition, Anwar curtly said “we will discuss”, without elaborating.

Anwar also reiterated Dr Mahathir’s promise to hand over the prime ministership after the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in November, and urged Malaysians to be patient until then.

“We will deal with this and I don’t think anyone should be put under pressure, whether me or Tun Mahathir.

“I reiterated that he should be given latitude because both of us and the PH council have decided that the change will be smooth, peaceful and orderly,” Anwar said.