Anwar: PKR remains strongly behind Mahathir

After an outburst by senior members, PKR de facto leader says he has relayed the party's concerns to the prime minister.

Mahathir chatting with Wan Azizah during a visit to Anwar Ibrahim at Cheras hospital yesterday. (Twitter pic)

PETALING JAYA: PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim says the party is firmly behind prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s leadership, making a statement of reassurance in the wake of an outburst by senior party members about Cabinet appointments.

Anwar said he had been visited by Mahathir yesterday at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, where he is recuperating after surgery, and had relayed the concerns of party leaders who wanted “a more inclusive approach to negotiations”.

However, he did not specify what these negotiations were about.

“Mahathir accepted these views, but all decisions must be made by the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council,” Anwar said.

He had also informed the PKR leadership to ensure the strength of the Pakatan Harapan federal government under Mahathir and Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is maintained.

“I urge all my comrades who have received their mandate from the people to immediately carry out their duty to save and rebuild our country.”

Yesterday, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli said the party had not been present at the meeting of party leaders when the decisions on Cabinet positions were made. He said decisions on appointments must be unanimously agreed to by all four parties.

He asserted the Cabinet line-up was still under negotiation with Anwar, that “PKR assumes that the discussions are still under way and no final decision had been made”.

Yesterday Mahathir had named PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin as home minister, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as finance minister and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu as defence minister. The rest of the Cabinet positions will be announced later.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was already named deputy prime minister after Mahathir took his oath of office as prime minister on May 10.

Earlier today, former PPBM member Khairuddin Abu Hassan urged Rafizi to voice any dissatisfaction regarding new Cabinet appointments through Pakatan Harapan’s internal channels instead of publicly. -FMT