Pakatan Harapan leaders should set aside their individual and political interests in the prime minister succession issue, said PKR vice president Zuraida Kamaruddin (photo).
Stressing that the coalition leaders have to put the nation’s interest first rather than being selfish, Zuraida also advocated for a flexible approach to Harapan presidential council’s deal for the handover of power between incumbent premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
“That can be discussed during Harapan meeting. If all members (of the meeting) are matured, they will think about what is more important.
“Whether it is the country’s way forward or the interest of an individual or a party, we have to look at the whole nation. We can’t be selfish now,” she told reporters at the sidelines of an event in Taman Melawati in Kuala Lumpur.
Zuraida was responding to requests for comments on whether she supported the idea of Mahathir serving a full five-year term as the PM.
This comes as PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang recently promised the support of his party and PAS’ ally Umno, that they would work to ensure Mahathir continues as the premier until the end of his term.
This was in contrary to what was agreed by the Harapan presidential council, with Mahathir supposed to hand over the post to Anwar before his term ends.
There was however no exact timeline specified by the council.
Zuraida also took a potshot, seemingly aimed at Anwar when asked if she meant that now Harapan should not place the interest of an individual to become the next prime minister.
“Cannot, that’s right. (We) cannot.
“Even myself as a minister, if I’m not good, please take me down. Change me. That should be the attitude,” she said. – mkini
Let Dr Mahathir serve full term for country’s sake, says PKR veep Zuraida
PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin is the next senior leader in the party to voice support for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to serve a full term instead of handing it over mid-way to her party president Anwar Ibrahim.
She said Pakatan Harapan leaders, who had agreed to the mid-term succession previously, should “set aside their individual and political interests,” Malaysiakiniquoted her as saying.
“Whether it is the country’s way forward or the interest of an individual or a party, we have to look at the whole nation. We can’t be selfish now,” she said at an event in Taman Melawati in Kuala Lumpur today.
Zuraida, who is housing and local government minister, said the agreement for Dr Mahathir hand over to Anwar before the end of the current term, could be discussed agains by the coalition’s leadership.
“If all (leaders) are mature, they will think about what is more important.”
She said a full term of service for Dr Mahathir would be better “for the sake of the nation”.
Zuraida, who is allies with PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, said it was more important to ensure continuity as the country still needed about five years to stabilise once Dr Mahathir completed “setting the platform”.
“When there is a handover after one full term, it will be easier because the system, the framework is there. (We) just go on from there.”
Azmin, who is economic affairs minister, had voiced support for a full term for Dr Mahathir, drawing the ire of Anwar supporters.
This goes against the pre-election agreement reached by all PH component parties that the 94-year-old statesman should hand over to Anwar in about two years.
Dr Mahathir has repeatedly said he would stick to the agreement although he also said the exact time would depend how much he could restore the country’s economic and financial stability.
This also comes after news of a meeting between Dr Mahathir and opposition representatives last Tuesday, at which those present urged the 94-year-old prime minister to complete his term.
It was speculated that Azmin had been the only minister present at the meeting, a fact he did not address when asked yesterday. the malaysian insight
MKINI / THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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