FULL OF ULTERIOR MOTIVES: Pro-Hadi Pas leader moots bipartisan council, names Dr M chairman

Former PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali is urging Putrajaya to set up a National Consultative Council (NCC) committee to tackle the country's crises, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's leadership, Sinar Harian reported.

Mustafa told the Malay-language daily in an exclusive interview that the NCC should be bipartisan and comprise leaders of the main political parties in the country.

He also named former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam and former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as possible candidates to lead the committee.

"If you ask me who is most qualified, Dr Mahathir is the man. This is because Dr Mahathir once served as prime minister and he understands a lot of things.

"I am confident he can think up a solution to the problems afflicting the country right now," Mustafa was quoted as saying in the report.

He said any lawmaker could propose forming the committee, not just the opposition.

When asked why he was suggesting this, Mustafa said the problems in the country appeared to have reached a critical stage.

Former PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali

"There are a variety of problems, it's a mix of economics, politics and the people's welfare. I have never seen something like this during the time of the previous prime ministers.

"It's terrible for the country when leaders interfere in institutions. This has to stop but we don't know when it will change."

The PAS elections director suggested that the government could be changed through national polls, a no-confidence vote, or in a manner similar to the 2009 Perak government takeover.

"Fourth is to reject the budget tabled in Parliament by the prime minister, which usually happens in October.

"If the majority of lawmakers do not approve the budget this means it's a  vote of no confidence against the prime minister and he should resign," said Mustafa, who is currently the Islamist party's elections director. – TMI