Anwar needs enough runway to lead Harapan into GE15 - analysts

If Anwar Ibrahim were to take over as prime minister from Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the PKR president will need some runway to consolidate Pakatan Harapan as he will be the one leading the coalition into the 15th general election.

This is according to political analyst Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, an associate professor with Universiti Utara Malaysia's College of Law, Government and International Studies.

"To be fair to Anwar, the transition needs to happen at least two years before the GE15.

"This is to give Anwar time to continue with Mahathir's agenda to strengthen the country in terms of economy and politics as well as to strengthen Pakatan Harapan for the election," he told Malaysiakini.

Harapan has a consensus for Mahathir to hand over power to Anwar before the end of his term, although no firm time frame has been given.

Mahathir had said that he needed "two or three years", but there are also calls for Mahathir to stay on for a full term, including from Anwar's own party deputy Mohamed Azmin Ali, whose ties with him is strained.

The prime minister has insisted that he will keep his promise to Anwar unless someone "puts a gun" to his head.

Azizuddin said if Mahathir were to serve a full term, then it would not really count as a transition of power as the new prime minister would be seeking a new mandate in the general election.

Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia political sociology lecturer Sivamurugan Pandian said how long the prime minister should stay on should be left to Mahathir himself to decide.

He added that Anwar, who has access to Mahathir, can come to an arrangement as needed.

"The transition needs to be smooth when both leaders are ready for the exchange of baton," he said. - Mkini