Amanah wants Harapan and Dr M to continue with efforts to regain power

Amanah wants Harapan and its allies - the Bersatu faction aligned to Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Warisan - to press on with efforts to regain control of the federal government despite an impasse on who should become the new prime minister if the move succeeds.

Despite friction with PKR, Amanah also reiterated its commitment to Harapan's unity and to pursue reforms.

These were among the decisions made at the Amanah leadership committee meeting this morning, according to party president Mohamad Sabu.

"Amanah stresses that it is the responsibility of Harapan, along with Mahathir and his team as well as Warisan, to continue with the efforts to restore the people's mandate granted to Harapan in the last general election," he said in a statement today.

Mohamad said this is to address the various abuses seen under the new Perikatan Nasional government, which among others, include the sidelining of Parliament, the dropping of corruption cases, dishing out government positions in exchange for political support and the persecution of the opposition.

Amanah and DAP have endorsed PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as the coalition's prime ministerial candidate if he can muster sufficient support to form a majority.

However, after Anwar failed to gain sufficient support, Amanah and DAP have pressed PKR to consider Mahathir as prime minister as a fallback.

Mahathir's allies have argued that he was more palatable to the East Malaysian bloc, which is instrumental in the formation of any majority.

Anwar had earlier this week travelled to Sarawak to court for GPS' support but to no avail. GPS has 18 MPs.

PKR had rejected the possibility of Mahathir becoming the prime ministerial candidate but said it was still open to working with him.

Mohamad said the possibility of the PN government initiating a snap poll also cannot be ruled out and called on Harapan parties to be prepared.

"In anticipation of a snap election in the near term, Amanah calls on all Harapan component parties to urgently ready their election machinery," he said.

The Harapan government collapsed in late February Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin pulled his party out of the coalition government.

Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister on March 1, after Mahathir refused to lead the new coalition he put together, comprising Bersatu, PKR defectors, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and Star.

However, Muhyiddin only has a three-seat majority in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat.

He is reportedly considering snap polls if Harapan and its allies succeed in swinging MPs back to its side to form a new majority. - Mkini