KUALA LUMPUR — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he plans to step down as prime minister once he has fixed the country’s problems — and that this may take two to three years.
“We will make most of the corrections within a period of two years, and after that, I think the others will have fewer problems to face,” Singapore’s Straits Timesquoted the prime minister as saying during a group interview with the foreign press today.
When asked to clarify the timeframe in which he will remain as prime minister before stepping down, Dr Mahathir said: “I don’t know whether it is three years or two years, but I am an interim prime minister.”
Dr Mahathir has yet to detail when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will take over but has consistently downplayed concerns over a succession plan.
The transition issue has been a contentious one. Although Dr Mahathir has repeatedly stated that he will hand over the prime minister’s post to Anwar, no formal timeframe has been set.
Some within Pakatan Harapan (PH) also feel that Dr Mahathir should be allowed a full term to carry out the coalition’s reform pledges.
In addition, PH secretariat chief Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah had said in January that the length of Dr Mahathir’s term has never been discussed at the pact’s presidential council’s meetings.
In February, Anwar reiterated the narrative of a smooth transition process, saying he expects to be prime minister in not more than two years’ time, but stressed that Dr Mahathir must be accorded enough space to govern effectively during “very difficult and trying times”.
Amid a factional tussle in Anwar’s party PKR, Economic Affairs Minister and party deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali was also forced to deny rumours that he will be made the deputy prime minister during the Ramadan fasting month period. – MALAY MAIL
Tok Mat says Dr M won’t keep promise to Anwar, foresees snap election
KOTA KINABALU — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not keep his promise of passing on the prime minister’s post to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim even after two years, said Umno acting president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Rantau MP said he was familiar with Dr Mahathir’s character and from what he knows, the latter will not relinquish the post to Anwar.
“I’ve worked with the grandpa for a long time. Trust me, I know the man; he won’t give it up,” he told a ceramah in Bandar Letat Jaya here today.
“Instead, when the time is up in two years, he will sooner dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections instead,” he said, adding that the election will be called as soon as the end of next year.
Mohamad, who is also known as Tok Mat, said the Pakatan Harapan government had not kept its election promises and has also let the country’s economy slip.
In propping his party up, he said that Umno and PAS in Peninsular Malaysia worked together to unite the Malay-Muslims there for the same political agenda while Sabah Umno had the freedom to determine its own direction.
“It’s not one size fits all. They should be given the space to be independent and do what they need to do,” he said.
He noted that in Sabah, the racial makeup was different and commendable and hoped that Umno could continue the united front with the help of PBS.
Mohamad was campaigning for Parti Bersatu Sabah candidate Datuk Linda Tsen in the Sandakan by election during the ceramah.
Tsen is facing a five-cornered fight against DAP’s Vivian Wong and three independent candidates.
Earlier, Umno state liaison chief Datuk Bung Moktar Radin and Umno Sepanggar division chief Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan also spoke at the ceramah attended by some 500 people.
More are expected at an Umno ceramah on Friday, the last day before polling.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is also expected to speak at the final ceramah. MALAY MAIL
MALAY MAIL.
Tok mat seems to be nujum pak belalang.
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