Gag order imposed on PKR leaders amid friction with Harapan allies

PKR leaders have been instructed not to speak to the media at a time of heightened tension with the party's Pakatan Harapan allies.

Malaysiakini understands a message was sent to the PKR leadership council WhatsApp group informing members to refrain from making public comments.

"A reminder to all MPs, assemblypersons and leadership council members. Avoid speaking to the media for the time being or get clearance from the president or secretary-general," read the message sighted by Malaysiakini.

The message was purportedly sent out by PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil last Saturday.

When contacted, Fahmi declined to weigh in on the matter. "I can't comment on that," he said.

However, PKR sources told Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity that the gag order was to avoid hurting the party's relationship with Amanah and DAP further.

Amanah and DAP pressured Anwar to consider disputed Bersatu president Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the prime minister candidate if Harapan is able to regain federal power.

This is after Anwar purportedly failed to win over the East Malaysia bloc which is critical to forming a majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Supporters have argued that Mahathir is a more palatable option to the East Malaysia bloc, particularly GPS which has 18 MPs.

This prompted a number of PKR leaders to criticise Amanah and DAP for not sticking with Anwar.

However, Amanah and DAP maintained they still supported Anwar as prime minister but wanted Mahathir to lead for the first six months before a transition to the PKR president.

Anwar had said due consideration had been given to the possibility of Mahathir becoming prime minister but added that the Langkawi MP did not appear to have enough numbers to form a majority as well.

He added that "hurtful" comments had been made but maintained that Harapan would remain intact.

The Harapan government collapsed in late February after 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 the former 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.

Mahathir, along with Harapan and Warisan, have been working on a counter-coup but the plan could not be executed due to the impasse over the prime minister candidate. - Mkini