PSM says Dr M should withdraw from race after 'losing mandate'

PSM says Dr M should withdraw from race after 'losing mandate'

8.55am: PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan welcomes Pakatan Harapan’s move to stating “clearly and firmly” a prime minister candidate while committing to honouring its GE14 manifesto.

He opines that the Pakatan Harapan coalition had failed to prioritise its own manifesto or was “too weak” in implementing it.

“Harapan frequently fought over the issue of transition of power (over the premiership) and did not agree on issues pertaining to race,” he says in a statement.

He adds that as Dr Mahathir Mohamad has lost the mandate of the MPs - with the latter now finding himself at third place in terms of the number of MP support - he should withdraw from the race.

“(He should) release the future of the country’s politics to other parties.”

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Ramasamy deems it 'poetic justice' that Anwar is now in the lead

8.30am: Penang deputy chief minister (II) P Ramasamy (below) deems it “poetic justice” that a move to undermine PKR president Anwar Ibrahim now sees the latter seemingly leading the running to be prime minister.

This is after it emerged yesterday that Pakatan Harapan has rescinded its support for interim prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and backed Anwar as prime minister candidate.

Anwar currently stands at having the most support from MPs, with 92.

“Mahathir’s non-attendance at the crucial Pakatan Harapan meeting, the pressure exerted on the coalition, the need to address the concerns of the rakyat and Harapan’s reluctance to go along with the nebulous and impractical idea of unity government paved the way for the nomination.

“[...]It is strange and kind of poetic justice that a deceitful movement that started out to undermine the Harapan coalition in general and Anwar in particular, took an opposite direction in empowerment.

“Let’s hope that Anwar succeeds in proving the majority in parliament, forms a good government and most importantly implements what were promised to the rakyat before the last general election,” the Perai assemblyperson says in a statement. - Mkini