KUALA LUMPUR: Dr Mahathir Mohamad is heading to Istana Negara, a day after his rare speech on national television in which he apologised for his resignation earlier this week that led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.
A well informed source said the 94-year-old, two-time prime minister and now the interim leader in the middle of an unprecedented power vacuum, has the majority needed, this time made of “friends old and new, and foes old and new”.
“That he has the numbers is a foregone conclusion,” the source told FMT under condition of strict anonymity.
“The only problem he faces now is in getting into safer grounds, and that can only happen if a handful of MPs including from his former Cabinet decide to ditch their party loyalties,” the source added.
Mahathir’s trip to the palace today could be another historic event in Malaysian politics in the event he is sworn-in to head a new government.
Just two years ago, he returned to power 15 years after he stepped down from two decades of rule, which saw one of Malaysia’s most colourful political and economic transformations since independence.
Yesterday, Mahathir pleaded to the public to give him a chance to gather MPs from all sides and form a non-partisan government.
“Right or wrong, I feel that politics and partisan politics need to be put aside for now. If allowed, I would try to establish a government that does not side with any party. Only the interest of the nation will be given priority.
“If permitted, this is what I will attempt,” he said reading out from an 18-point prepared statement.
A source said Mahathir’s proposal is seen as “too revolutionary” for Malaysia’s fractious political scene.
“But it is also a compromise between a government with a non-Malay majority as represented by Pakatan Harapan, and a government that is almost all made up of Malays,” it said.
MORE TO COME - FMT
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