‘PKR absent from meeting over top cabinet posts’

PKR leaders did not turn up at the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting yesterday to decide on cabinet positions, according to sources from several component parties.

This meeting was a follow-up to a meeting of four party leaders on Friday (photo), in which the cabinet list was discussed.

But as further consultation was needed, a presidential council meeting was scheduled for the following day, with each party being required to send a delegation of five representatives.

Following the meeting, Mahathir had on Saturday afternoon announced three cabinet positions - for defence, finance and home affairs ministries - alongside Amanah and DAP leaders, but without any PKR leaders present.

A source said three PKR leaders were initially present for the meeting, but left before it started. The meeting then proceeded - approximately from 9am until 3pm - without PKR representation.

Therefore, sources said accusations by PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had "bulldozed" through with the appointments were invalid.

"The allegations that there was no consultation does not arise," DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke told Malaysiakini. Sources from other parties, who did not want to be named, concurred with this view.

At the time of writing, Rafizi could not be reached for comments.

Dr M met Anwar

It is understood that Mahathir had met PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to discuss the cabinet list late yesterday at the Cheras Rehabilitation Centre.

Mahathir quietly left the venue. It is unsure what transpired.

Another source told Malaysiakini that Mahathir was in a rush against time.

"He has to come up with a stable government - a cabinet - before markets open on Monday," said the source, adding that Rafizi's claims had complicated matters.

Mahathir, probably by design, had instituted public holidays for Thursday and Friday after the Wednesday elections, thereby stalling market volatility, said a source. -Mkini