Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has insisted that Pakatan Harapan must name its prime minister candidate before the next general election.
The former deputy prime minister said the issue must not be taken lightly as voters want to know who would lead the government if Harapan were to come out victorious post-GE14.
“People have asked who would be the prime minister or the deputy prime minister. And we cannot bury the people’s voice, or ignore it. For me what’s important is not the party, what’s important is what the people want.
“For me and Bersatu, however difficult it is, Harapan has to decide on who would be prime minister. We must decide who would be the prime minister and if possible the deputy prime minister, too. And it should be announced before GE14,” he said as quoted by The Malaysian Insight in an interview.
Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the coalition's president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (photo) were proposed as prime minister and deputy prime minister candidates during the Harapan leadership retreat earlier this month.
When news of this proposal was leaked, some PKR grassroots were unhappy because they believe Mahathir's 22-year rule had contributed to Harapan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's jailing in 1999.
PKR has since agreed with Harapan's suggestion to name Mahathir as their nominee for premiership, albeit with several conditions.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said he believes the issue is important as voters would want to know who will replace Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
He, however, denied that Bersatu is pushing the agenda as the candidate is coming from Bersatu.
“It doesn’t matter who we finally decide on but it’s something that voters would want to know. Everywhere I have gone and through the feedback from the ground, we know voters want to know what they are getting into."
Harapan, he confirmed, does not have a contingency plan if it cannot agree on the prime minister candidate before the general election.
“There is no plan B, only plan A. And that is to announce a candidate before GE14.”
On PKR which is said to be the obstacle in naming the candidate, Muhyiddin is of the opinion that each party has its own way of weighing options.
“Like Bersatu, we are very clear and open about it. There are parties that may have different processes. But that’s okay.
“To me, ample time should be given for them to consider the options but it should not be delayed.
He is however confident that the matter will be resolved before the general election.
"Because the leaders in Harapan know it’s not the time to play around and we don’t want to fool the people. This is serious for voters on who will lead the country after the elections.”- Mkini
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