PM-designate to be revealed

Lim: Pakatan to announce choice for leader in January

GEORGE TOWN: Pakatan Harapan will announce its choice for the Prime Minister’s post next month, says the DAP secretary-general.

Lim Guan Eng said although the coalition preferred Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, there were other choices too.

“Since he (Anwar) is in jail, we have other choices,” he said.

Guan Eng, who is Penang Chief Minister, was responding to reports that DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang was vying for the post.

“No leader in DAP has ever asked for the Prime Minister’s post,” Guan Eng said at a press confer- ence yesterday.

Penang Parti Amanah Negara chief Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said announcements would be made at the Jan 7 Pakatan convention.

“Part of the announcement would be on the seat arrangements, manifesto and the big question of who will lead the Pakatan government.

“Hopefully, the announcement will boost voter confidence,” he said.

Dr Mujahid said the parties had time to “manage their differences” before the convention.

Penang PKR chairman Datuk Mansor Othman said the party’s political bureau would hold a meeting today to discuss the candidacy of Prime Minister.

At a recent two-day Pakatan retreat, the Opposition coalition proposed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the top post and Anwar’s wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as deputy should it win the general election.

It was also reported that the choice was agreed to by the coalition’s “G5”, comprising Pakatan chairman Dr Mahathir, president Dr Wan Azizah, and deputy presidents Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Guan Eng and Mohamed Sabu.

The decision was met with some resistance by members of the coalition.

On Sunday, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said racial ties among the people would be damaged if Kit Siang were to become the Prime Minister.

Liow said Kit Siang’s ambition had always been to topple the Barisan Nasional government and he was well-versed in political manipulation.