Efforts to initiate a counter-coup against the Perikatan Nasional government appears to be on shaky ground as Pakatan Harapan and its allies struggle to break a deadlock between disputed Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
At the centre of the dispute is Mahathir's offer for Anwar to become deputy prime minister while he takes the premiership for six months for a swan song before handing over the power - something that is not agreeable to PKR.
"Most PKR MPs don't want that," a party source told Malaysiakini.
Others this news portal spoke to indicated a lack of trust that Mahathir would keep up his end of the bargain.
The suspicion against Mahathir means PKR is only willing to throw its support behind the counter-coup movement if it means Anwar will become prime minister.
The suspicion is not without grounds as leaked internal Bersatu meetings had shown that Mahathir was prepared to keep his promise to resign as prime minister but did not appear ready to rally Bersatu's MPs for Anwar.
In a leaked audio, Mahathir had even suggested that he could return as prime minister after resigning if Anwar could not get majority support in the Dewan Rakyat and appealed to Bersatu leaders pressuring him to ditch Harapan to wait until then.
Bersatu, under its president Muhyiddin Yassin (photo), did not want to wait and decided to form a new coalition government with PKR defectors, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR under PN.
When Mahathir objected, he and his allies were removed from Bersatu.
PKR leaders do not want to be confronted with a similar situation that preceded the collapse of the Harapan government.
On the opposing side, Mahathir's Bersatu faction is insistent that Mahathir should become the prime minister.
Amid the horse-trading, several Bersatu leaders have publicly declared that Harapan can only attract the support from the East Malaysia bloc, which is instrumental to a stable government if Mahathir was in the driver seat.
There appears to be some truth to this. Malaysiakini has been made to understand that Harapan has tried to engage with Warisan president Shafie Apdal to get him to support Anwar to no avail.
Shafie was previously among the leaders linked to the move to set up PN. However, the Sabah chief minister and his party stuck by Mahathir when the latter did not back the new political realignment.
For this reason, Malaysiakini understands that DAP and Amanah have been trying to convince PKR to accept the deal with Mahathir, on the grounds that a transition takes place within six months. This has not sat well in the PKR.
A leader within Mahathir's camp had postured that Anwar could be left behind if he did not accept the deal.
"It's up to Anwar to accept the deal or Mahathir or a different deputy prime minister will be considered.
"DAP and Amanah are fully behind Mahathir".
Hints have also been dropped that the Mahathir camp may explore other options if Anwar does not take up their offer, including selecting a different prime minister.
PKR sources indicated the general sentiment was that the party is ready to stand its ground even if it is alone in its position.
Anwar, in an interview with Malaysiakini, had said that he would not compromise on principles for the sake of achieving the necessary numbers. Other PKR leaders appear to be making this their stance.
However, despite the internal frustrations, one PKR leader has dismissed the possibility of a Harapan breakup.
The reality remains that neither Anwar nor Mahathir can retake the government if they do not cooperate, regardless of how DAP, Amanah or Warisan align.
Harapan and allies had again convened a meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday but failed to break the deadlock, according to several Harapan leaders who spoke to Malaysiakini.
Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub also confirmed with Malaysiakini the stalemate.
"We don't have a decision yet," he said.
Despite the tough negotiations, Salahuddin (below) reiterated that PKR, Amanah and DAP are intact as a coalition.
However, in the two weeks, since the counter-coup efforts were set in motion, the movement has lost instead of gaining ground after PN engineered the defection of Lubok Antu MP Jugah Muyang from PKR, raising its majority in the Dewan Rakyat to three.
Amanah strategic director Dzulkefly Ahmad also acknowledged that Harapan is racing against time if it is to have any hope of regaining the government within the term.
"While the deadline for a resolution may be ticking dangerously, l have a firm belief these two legends-seasoned politicians (Anwar and Mahathir) will come to an amicable resolution, God willing.
"The unmandated-compromised Muhyiddin govt mustn't be allowed to 'rule with impunity' hand-in-glove with kleptocrats and bigots," he tweeted yesterday.
The clock was set for Harapan to make a decision after Mahathir and Warisan went to the PKR headquarters last Tuesday for a meeting, which ended without a decision.
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil had indicated that a resolution should be announced by this coming Tuesday at the latest, and a failure to deliver would reflect poorly on Harapan.
Malaysiakini understands that a new meeting has yet to be fixed even though the deadline is only two days away. - Mkini
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