PKR today highlighted a joint statement that outlines Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the Pakatan Harapan candidate for prime minister and Anwar Ibrahim as his successor.
This follows Bersatu supreme council member Rais Yatim telling The Star in an interview that there was no “black and white” for Anwar to succeed Mahathir.
“PKR is satisfied with the transition plan for the prime minister as set out in the Pakatan Harapan consensus document which was jointly agreed by all key leaders, as announced on January 7, 2018, at the Pakatan Harapan convention at Ideal Convention Centre, Selangor.
“Mahathir and the Pakatan Harapan presidential council have also stood by this arrangement,” the PKR leadership council said in a statement, which was issued after a political bureau meeting this afternoon.
The Pakatan Harapan consensus document paved the way for Mahathir to become its prime ministerial candidate, even despite objections from senior leaders within the coalition.
The document also outlines that if Harapan won the 14th general election and Mahathir became prime minister, he would seek a royal pardon for Anwar, who would thereafter succeed him as the eighth prime minister.
No timeline is mentioned in the document.
Mahathir, who was installed as the seventh prime minister following Harapan’s electoral victory last year, followed through and sought a royal pardon for Anwar.
Without a fixed timeline, the transition plan remains vague. However, Anwar told journalists after the PKR political bureau meeting that he does not doubt Mahathir on the transition plan.
In its statement today, the PKR leadership council also reiterated its support for Mahathir’s efforts to fix the economy, implement institutional reforms and strengthen national security.
The council also stressed the need for economic reforms, and to take advantage of global market uncertainty – such as inviting technology giant Apple Inc, which is facing difficulties in China, to Malaysia.
On a separate issue, the PKR leadership council also acknowledged the need to intensify party activities.
It said the PKR president and other party leaders will be conducting visits to the respective states, as has been done in Sabah, Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur.
I’ve no doubt power transition will take place, says Anwar
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today said he has no doubt that Dr Mahathir Mohamad will hand over the prime minister’s post to him.
“In my weekly and private exchanges with the prime minister, I am satisfied. I do not have any doubt that the transition would take place.
“He has been genuine and the discussions (between us are) not only frank, but (also) intimate,” he told a press conference after chairing the party’s central leadership council meeting this evening at the PKR headquarters.
“As far as I am concerned, and he is concerned, it (the transition plan) is a done deal,” he said.
In the meeting earlier, PKR central leadership council reaffirmed that the party is satisfied with the transition plan as decided by Pakatan Harapan in its convention on Jan 7, 2018.
Harapan had endorsed Mahathir as the seventh premier and Anwar to succeed him as the eighth premier.
However, no transition timeline was decided by the ruling coalition.
PKR today also reiterated its support for Mahathir to continue his and his cabinet’s effort to accelerate the country’s economy and pushing for Harapan’s reform agenda.
When questioned on the need for PKR to reaffirm its decision on the transition plan at this time, Anwar said this is done to address questions raised by others.
“On a serious note, we do not feel that it is necessary. But, due to the continuous questions and gestures on the issues of transition, we find it necessary to reaffirm our position and express our satisfaction with the ongoing process.
“I see people tend to be very negative even when the prime minister reiterated his position and still they read between the lines (when) one or two words missing, or one or two insinuations, which completely to me is irrelevant,” he said.
Invite Apple and Dyson to Malaysia
Anwar also said his party will focus on reforming the economy in the midst of a trade war between the US and China by attracting big players to set up their manufacturing plants in Malaysia.
In the press conference today, he said his party had proposed to invite iPhone manufacturer Apple and UK-based Dyson to come to Malaysia.
“We should utilise our position and our niche as a vibrant open economy with a capable quality workforce to invite (them to Malaysia) and provide additional incentives for iPhone (Apple), Dyson and (other) known big players to explore and consider destinations within South East Asia for them to operate.
“I think it is important for them to know the issue of transition (of power) and stability which I’ve assured them.
“Secondly, they want to know what additional incentives could be given and thirdly, (they want to know) the speed of approval (of licensing and permit).
“This will be beneficial to the people directly and will again make Malaysia ‘the tiger of Asia’,” he said.
– M’kini
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