'Vested interests trying to get Dr M to stay or leave earlier'

People lobbying for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to either stay on longer as prime minister or leave soon do so as they have vested interests that depend on the premier's tenure, says Bersatu supreme council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan.

He stressed that the Pakatan Harapan leadership already had a consensus on the transition of power from Mahathir to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Wan Saiful (above) said this in response to efforts to have Mahathir serve out a full term as prime minister as well as the counter-lobby for Mahathir to immediately leave on his second anniversary as the premier.

"Parties with vested interests engaging in deceitful manoeuvring to either speed up the transition or retain Mahathir need to stop.

"We have all been informed of the consensus on the power transition so do not push it as it goes against the agreement made by the top leadership," he told Malaysiakini.

Another Bersatu supreme council leader Rais Hussin warned that those lobbying for Mahathir to stay on longer or leave earlier in order to further their own interests will end up weakening Pakatan Harapan.

"The Harapan administration should put more focus on fulfilling its manifesto.

"This dirty political game should be minimised as perpetuating it will cost the people to lose confidence in Harapan's leadership," he said.

On Friday, Anwar, after meeting with Mahathir, confirmed that there was a "plot" to push Mahathir to serve a full five-year term as prime minister.

Anwar implicated PAS and "a group from Umno and a small number from PKR".

However, he said Mahathir was not involved. He also made no mention of Bersatu or DAP.

A day later, Mahathir said there were people who wanted him to stay on as prime minister for another "22 years" but assured that he would leave after the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Kuala Lumpur in November.

PAS had in recent weeks actively pushed for a "confidence vote" in Mahathir. The prime minister indicated that he appreciated the support but pointed out that he was already the premier.

The speculation of a plot was further fuelled by a Sarawak Report article claiming there was an effort to gather MPs and for them to sign statutory declarations (SDs) pledging support for Mahathir to stay on a full term.

Meanwhile, Johor Bersatu chief Mazlan Bujang said he has not caught wind about the alleged SD to support Mahathir. Bersatu has five MPs in Johor.

"It is just a rumour and the Harapan leadership council is firm with the power transition plan," he said.

Meanwhile, Hulu Terengganu MP Rosol Wahid, formerly with Umno but who has since defected to Bersatu, dismissed the move to gather the SDs.

"I am not aware and have not paid attention to the developments on the SDs. It's just a rumour. I'm busy with my duties serving the people in my constituency," he said. - Mkini