Consensus reached over PM candidate - Marzuki

"Pakatan Harapan plus" has reached a consensus over its candidate for prime minister, said Bersatu secretary-general Marzuki Yahya following a meeting between top leaders of the faction this afternoon.

Marzuki said "yes" when asked twice if a consensus on the faction's prime ministerial candidate was reached during the meeting.

However, in a joint statement issued by Harapan's three component party leaders, Warisan president Shafie Apdal and Dr Mahathir Mohamad indicated that "decisions" - which were unspecified - will only be finalised later this week.

"The meeting today saw comprehensive discussions on the position of every party and saw very positive developments.

"The processes of finalising every decision will be performed within this week," said the signatories in the three-paragraph statement.

The meeting of five top opposition political leaders today followed weeks of informal discussions over the possible formation of a new government to replace Perikatan Nasional.

Today was the first formal meeting held between all five party leaders following the fall of the Harapan government in late February.

Even behind surgical masks, "Harapan plus" leaders could not hide their smiles when they emerged after a three-and-a-half-hour meeting at the PKR headquarters today.

Mahathir emerged first followed closely by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Shafie, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

All refused to speak to the press.

It also marked the second time Mahathir visited the PKR headquarters while for Shafie, it was his first.

For weeks, Harapan leaders publicly hinted that the PN federal government was on the brink and a new government could be formed soon.

However, one major sticking point has been the question of who would be the new government's candidate for prime minister.

So far, the front runners, according to officials from several parties are Mahathir and Anwar, although some believe that Shafie too could be in the running. - Mkini