Harapan leaves it to Dr M to decide on post-Apec transition date

The Pakatan Harapan presidential council has left it to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to decide on a post-Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) transition of power.

Speaking at a late-night press conference in Putrajaya, Mahathir said this was a unanimous decision.

"We have discussed this at length, I don't have to repeat what we decided on.

"There were two opinions and in the end, it was all left up to me. What I say they will follow.

"The transition will take place after Apec, there is no timeframe. It is up to me whether to let go (of power) or not. That was the trust given to me," Mahathir said.

He was flanked on either side by his would-be successor Anwar Ibrahim and current Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Mahathir also said there was no talk of a cabinet reshuffle during the meeting.

When asked whether it was possible for him to decide to not give up the prime ministership after Apec, Mahathir said, “It is up to me. They have full confidence in me (to make the right decision)."

Meanwhile, Anwar said there should be no doubt in his stand that he was committed to letting the current prime minister carry out his duties.

“In the discussion, I myself suggested that Mahathir be given the space to govern.

“In the meantime, I have to be patient,” he said.

He was replying to a question on how he felt about the outcome of tonight's presidential council meeting.

A smiling PKR deputy president Azmin Ali was spotted leaving the building right before the press conference started at around midnight.

“(I am) smiling because of the prime minister insistence on guaranteeing the nation's economic and political stability,” Azmin, who is Economic Affairs Minister, told Malaysiakini as he was leaving.

Malaysiakini later overheard Azmin saying to Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir: “Alhamdulillah akhirnya selesai sudah” (Alhamdullilah, it is finally settled).

At the press conference, Mahathir also mentioned that the presidential council had also discussed the upcoming Sarawak state election.

This is to ensure the coalition's component parties would not end up contesting against each other for the state seats, he said.

Mahathir had been vague over a date for him to hand over the premiership to Anwar, who is PKR president, in keeping with a Harapan pact made in 2018.

He previously repeatedly promised to step down after November's Apec summit in Kuala Lumpur.

There were also reports of a plot, later confirmed by Anwar, to keep the 94-year-old Mahathir in office for a full term.

Whistle-blower website Sarawak Report recently claimed that MPs were asked to signing statutory declarations (SD) in support of the prime minister.

However, Anwar said Mahathir was not involved in this campaign but instead it was those from PAS, Umno and a “handful” from PKR.

Reportedly, there were also efforts within Anwar's own party to secure signatures from MPs for two separate SDs - one in support of the PKR president and the other for Mahathir to serve out a full term.

On top of all this, PAS is also planning to move a vote of confidence in Mahathir at the next Dewan Rakyat sitting in March for the premier to continue leading the nation until the end of his term. - Mkini