Umno's Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan today speculated that there will be renewed efforts to form a new government coalition if PKR president Anwar Ibrahim fails to succeed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the end of the latter's two-year tenure.

Ahmad, who was asked about competing for efforts to secure the support of Umno MPs with Umno's Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein allegedly leading a group opposed to Anwar, initially downplayed the matter, stating that it did not arise.

However, he later said "something similar" could happen by May 2020 if the transition from Anwar to Mahathir was still unclear.

"To me, after the formation of 'Muafakat Nasional' (the Umno and PAS alliance), it is more to preparing for the general election, that is my personal view.

"But if it is not clear that there will be a transition of power by May 2020, there is a possibility that something similar could arise again," he told journalists at the Parliament lobby today.

Highlighting Anwar's statement in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday that internal Pakatan Harapan discussion had suggested that Mahathir should only stay for a maximum of two years, Ahmad said the prime minister should address this.

"If Anwar is not given (the position), I see there would be efforts again to form a new coalition that would form the government," he said.

Ahmad did not say which parties would be involved in this new coalition.

On Tuesday, the Harapan secretariat accused Hihammuddin of pushing for the formation of a new government without DAP and Amanah and told him to stop.

Hishammuddin has denied any such effort, stating that he was just an ordinary Umno member. Ahmad also cited Hishammuddin detail.

Ahmad also stressed that with Umno and PAS as a political bloc, they could not accept DAP or Amanah.

Meanwhile, Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Abdullah, who was amongst those who signed off on the statement implicating Hishammuddin, declined to disclose more information.

"It's a straightforward statement from the Harapan secretariat, I won't comment more," he told journalists at the Parliament lobby today. - Mkini