PH strongly backs Mahathir as PM, says Azmin

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

KUALA LUMPUR: Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali today brushed aside talk of a vote of no-confidence against Dr Mahathir Mohamad and said the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition strongly backs the prime minister.

The PKR deputy president made the statement in the Dewan Rakyat after PAS claimed that a vote of no-confidence was to have been moved from within PH to oust Mahathir as the prime minister.

“There is no issue of a no-confidence vote.

“Today, we, Pakatan Harapan, give our strong and undivided support to the leadership of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the prime minister,” Azmin said when replying to a question from Annuar Musa (BN-Ketereh).

He said there is no question of any minister having failed to discharge his or her duties because all the ministers work collectively to shape more responsive policies for the people.

“At Cabinet meetings, we have discussions and come to a consensus. It is this consensus that has brought success,” he said.

Azmin also said the government has set up the National Economic Action Council (MTEN), outside the jurisdiction of the government, to obtain the views and ideas of the experts and academic figures.

The government also sought to hear the views of the private sector and academics so that there will be a balance in the shaping of government policies, he said.

“We work collectively together. We take an inclusive attitude. We take the views of all in shaping policies more responsive to the people’s problems. We are not exclusive like Umno or Barisan Nasional,” he said.

Azmin was replying to a question from Fong Kui Lun (PH-Bukit Bintang) who had questioned the rationale of setting up the MTEN when the government had formed the Council of Eminent Persons.- FMT