Kit Siang moots Dr Wan Azizah, Muhyiddin as interim PM, DPM
(MMO) – Lim Kit Siang has proposed that Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin be made interim prime minister and deputy prime minister if the Opposition wins the next general election.
At an event in Penang last night, the DAP leader stressed that Pakatan Harapan’s endorsement of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister-designate remained unchanged, even though the Federal Court dismissed the PKR de facto leader’s bid to review his sodomy conviction and jail sentence.
Lim said that both the PKR president and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president would make suitable candidates for the interim posts, in light of the new electoral pact between Pakatan Harapan and PPBM.
“As Mat Sabu mentioned just now, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be a good candidate for an interim Prime Minister.
“I will add that with the agreement reached by Pakatan Harapan and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia on Tuesday for an electoral pact to defeat Umno/ BN (Barisan Nasional) in the next general elections, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be a good candidate for the post of interim Deputy Prime Minister,” Lim said.
The Federal Court rejected Wednesday Anwar’s bid to review his sodomy conviction and five-year jail sentence on the basis that there was no merit in his application.
On Monday, former PKR secretary-general Rafizi suggested a plan that resembled his previous so-called “Kajang Move” on how Anwar can be made prime minister should Pakatan Harapan win the next general election.
Rafizi said if Pakatan Harapan won the 14th general elections, the pact could instruct the national chief secretary, who would be head of the caretaker government, to apply for a royal pardon for Anwar, who is currently in prison for sodomy, on behalf of the new federal government.
Anwar himself has not requested a royal pardon, but his family sent a request for the pardon of his conviction and avoided his disqualification from his Permatang Pauh seat in February last year when the Federal Court upheld his five-year jail sentence.
But in April last year, the government’s lawyers said that the Pardons Board had, in March, rejected Anwar’s petition. He was then disqualified as Permatang Pauh MP and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, won the by-election in the constituency.
Legal experts have said while Rafizi’s plan seemed plausible, it would be fraught with many obstacles and hinged on getting the PKR de facto leader pardoned by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
