PKR stands by ‘Harapan consensus’ to back Anwar as PM, rejects Dr M

PKR has again rejected Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Pakatan Harapan's candidate for prime minister.

Instead, the party's leadership council and MPs said they would stand by "Harapan's consensus" for Anwar to become prime minister.

"PKR is open to discussions with all quarters including Mahathir in the effort to save the country and return the people's mandate to its rightful place.

"However, the party has decided not to support the proposal to nominate Mahathir as prime minister and maintains the Harapan consensus to nominate Anwar as prime minister," they said in a statement.

They also said the DAP and Amanah had been consistent in their support for Anwar as prime minister and that a problem only arose when Mahathir said that he should be given a third term.

Previously, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke said that the party and Amanah had agreed to back Mahathir as prime minister for six months with Anwar as his deputy but that PKR had opposed this.

Malaysiakini understands that for the DAP and Amanah, the thinking is that Harapan would not have the numbers to secure a firm majority to retake Putrajaya without the 95-year-old politician.

PKR has made it clear that it does not trust Mahathir to fulfil his promise to resign in six months after becoming prime minister, but Loke assured that there would be mechanisms in place to make sure this happens.

Harapan's ally, Warisan, has reportedly rejected accepting a proposal for Anwar to be prime minister, with Mahathir's son Mukhriz Mahathir as deputy.

However, Warisan also rejected a proposal by Mahathir to extend his suggested six months tenure to one year.

[More to follow] - Mkini