Mahathir is the surest way for Anwar to be PM, though unsure of having the numbers

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 – DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has come out to defend DAP and Amanah stand in supporting former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad to be Pakatan Harapan’s prime minister candidate should they succeed in taking over Putrajaya from Perikatan Nasional.

In a statement today, Lim said that those saying DAP and Amanah have abandoned Anwar are wrong.

Instead, Lim said that it is the surest way for Anwar to become Prime Minister.

“DAP and Amanah had never abandoned Anwar in favour of Mahathir as it is the surest way for Anwar to become Prime Minister.

“We must not be prisoner 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.” Lim said, calling upon Anwar to be realistic.

“Even with all these factors in place, there is no guarantee of success to restore the mandate of the voters in the 14th General Election,” said Lim.

Lim also said that mistakes have been made in the 22 months of Pakatan Harapan government and they must not repeat these mistakes if they succeed in restoring the mandate of the voters in the 14th General Election.

“With the question of the Prime Minister settled with regard to the transition of Mahathir as the ninth Prime Minister to Anwar as the tenth Prime Minister 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 further.

Lim also backed the DAP Secretary-General and the Amanah President’s joint statement yesterday, stating Pakatan 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.

PH facing deadlock in deciding PM candidate

In the midst of Perikatan Nasional governing the country out of COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery, Pakatan Harapan is facing a deadlock in deciding who will be their Prime Minister candidate, should they succeed in resting power back from the coalition led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Anwar have since announced his rejection of the motion to make Tun Mahathir the Prime Minister for 6 months, fearing the nonagenarian will renege on the agreement.

Anwar also said that Tun Mahathir himself may not have the numbers to form a new government.

Tun Mahathir said recently that the support for him to be Prime Minister from those currently supporting Muhyiddin comes and go.

Question remains whether those keen to see Tun Mahathir back as Prime Minister would agree with the short 6 months tenure as they do not seem interested to see Anwar becoming Prime Minister at all.

One of the MPs told NMT that while he has a soft spot for Tun Mahathir, he will never back Anwar so it will be back to February 2020 again after 6 months where Pakatan Harapan will collapse again.