Kit Siang: Wrong to assume Amanah, DAP have abandoned Anwar

Following DAP and Amanah's call for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to serve as interim prime minister for six months if Pakatan Harapan and its allies recapture Putrajaya, Lim Kit Siang clarified the parties have not "abandoned" their long-time ally Anwar Ibrahim.

The DAP veteran said a power transition was the "surest way" for the PKR president to eventually helm the nation.

"The question buzzing in most minds in the past one week is why DAP and Amanah have abandoned Anwar in favour of Mahathir? They are wrong.

"DAP and Amanah have never abandoned Anwar in favour of Mahathir, as it (the transition) is the surest way for Anwar to become prime minister," he added in a statement today.

DAP and Amanah’s stance comes amidst concerns that Harapan alone - led by Anwar - is unable to muster support from East Malaysian parliamentarians to secure a majority over Perikatan Nasional.

The coalition has therefore urged PKR to allow Mahathir a half-year term as prime minister before handing over the reins to Anwar, who would serve as the number two until then.

Mahathir’s supporters have contended that the 95-year-old politician is more likely to win over MPs from Sabah and Sarawak.

This led to an impasse as PKR rejected the option, insisting on Anwar as its sole prime minister candidate.

Meanwhile, Anwar claimed that Mahathir has not been able to secure enough support either.

In his statement, Kit Siang recalled how Harapan’s GE14 victory was made possible after Anwar and Mahathir set aside their bitter rivalry and formed a united front against BN.

"We must not be prisoners of the past or the historic decision of May 9, 2018, bringing about a peaceful and democratic change of government would not have taken place,” he said.

Acknowledging that the opposition's efforts to topple the PN administration might fail, the Iskandar Puteri MP hoped that Harapan would remain united no matter what.

"We must be realistic. Even with all these factors in place, there is no guarantee of success to restore the mandate of the voters in GE14.

"As stated by DAP secretary-general (Lim Guan Eng) and Amanah president (Mohamad Sabu) yesterday and evidenced by the meeting of the Harapan secretariat and the joint statement of the principal leaders of the three parties, Harapan will continue as a united political movement to unite all like-minded political forces in the country to save Malaysia to effect institutional reforms and democratic change in the country," he said.

Should Harapan and its allies succeed in toppling the PN administration, Kit Siang cautioned that they must not repeat the Harapan government’s mistakes.

“With the question of the PM settled with regard to the transition of Mahathir as the ninth PM to Anwar as the tenth PM in six months’ time, a coalition system of decision-making with regard to major appointments and mode of Cabinet governance would have to be agreed upon,” he said. - Mkini