MAHATHIR READY TO ‘GO NOW’ – ADMITS DECISION UP TO PAKATAN’S TOP COUNCIL: SO FOR MALAYSIA’S SAKE, WHAT IS PAKATAN WAITING FOR – IF NOT ‘NOW’, THEN A FIRM RETIREMENT DATE FOR 94-YEAR-OLD PM SHOULD BE MADE & ANNOUNCED AT THE VERY LEAST FOR THE SAKE OF SMOOTH & RESPONSIBLE POWER TRANSITION – OR HAS PAKATAN LOST ALL SENSE OF ITS DUTY TO VOTERS

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Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is prepared to relinquish his post with immediate effect should the Pakatan Harapan presidential council demand it.

“I think this will be decided by all four (Harapan) parties together. Whether they want me to go or not to go.

“As far as I am concerned, if they want me to go now, I will go now,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Mahathir was responding to several PKR lawmakers proposing that he hand over the baton to Anwar Ibrahim in May this year.

Previously, the prime minister said he would honour his promise to step aside for the PKR president but not before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, which Malaysia is scheduled to host in November. – MKINI

I’ll step down now if Pakatan council wants me to, Dr Mahathir says

DR Mahathir Mohamad is ready to step down as prime minister immediately if that is the wish of the Pakatan Harapan presidential council.

He said his position is decided by the ruling pact’s components.

“I think this will be decided by all the four parties together, whether they want me to go or not go.

“As far as I’m concerned, if they want me to go now, I will go now,” he told reporters after officiating at the Bank Rakyat Integrity Forum 2020 in Kuala Lumpur today.

Dr Mahathir was asked about PKR lawmakers William Leong, Chang Lih Kang, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Wong Chen’s call at a forum last night for the transition of power to Anwar Ibrahim to be done in May instead of November.

Among the reasons cited by the MPs are weak local investments that have caused the economy to remain sluggish, and PKR president Anwar needing time to implement his policies and reforms before the next general election, as well as win over voters.

The next elections are due in 2023.

The power transition was agreed on by all PH parties before the 2018 general election. However, no time frame is set, leading to Anwar’s supporters urging for a handover sooner rather than later.

Dr Mahathir has hinted that the handover will take place after the 2020 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, which Kuala Lumpur will host in November.  – THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT

MKINI / THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT