Dr M after Tg Piai defeat – maybe it was my fault

After being blamed for Pakatan Harapan’s poor showing in the Tanjung Piai by-election last Saturday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad sarcastically remarked that the defeat may have been his fault.

“Maybe it was my fault. How would I know?” he told reporters in a nonchalant tone.

He said this in Sepang yesterday when asked to respond to several Harapan parliamentarians who blamed him for the coalition’s failure to hold the Tanjung Piai seat.

Earlier, the prime minister officiated the Multaqa Ulama Asia Tenggara 2019 event at the Movenpick Hotel, KLIA Convention Centre.

Among the Harapan MPs who criticised Mahathir on Monday was Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim, who said Mahathir should emulate his British counterpart David Cameron, who resigned as prime minister in 2016, after failing to stave off the “Leave” vote in the Brexit referendum.

Subang MP Wong Chen, meanwhile, posted on Facebook that the prime minister should come up with new plans to avoid further setbacks for Harapan.

In the Tanjung Piai by-election, BN candidate Wee Jeck Seng won by a landslide majority of 15,086 votes, garnering 25,466 votes compared to Harapan’s Karmaine Sardinie, who only managed 10,380 votes.

Right time for transition timeline

Asked to respond to calls for a clear timeline for his transition of power following Harapan’s defeat, Mahathir said the matter would be decided at a suitable time.

“We don’t yet know whether the country is ready for a transition of power or not. When the time comes, we will decide,” he said.

Former PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali had previously described the outcome of the Tanjung Piai by-election as a referendum on Mahathir’s leadership.

Earlier, in September, Syed Husin had also condemned Mahathir for refusing to outline a transition plan and questioned the Harapan leadership for being unable to stand up to Mahathir.

Harapan had named Mahathir as its pick for prime minister prior to the 14th general election, with the understanding that he would hand over power to the then incarcerated PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir initially said he would hold power for about two years, but in later interviews, he said he could take up to three years. - Mkini