Azmin says his stance on power transition remains

(NST) – PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali has maintained his stance that he shall continue to support Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to finish a full term as prime minister.

Azmin said this when asked about allegations of him being involved in the signing of a statutory declaration (SD) to support Dr Mahathir remaining as prime minister until the next general election, which went against Pakatan Harapan’s transition of power plan.

“I have made known my stance before and that is still my (position),” he said briefly to the media at Eco Grandeur here today.

Azmin had thrown his support for Dr Mahathir to remain as prime minister for a full term since July last year, when he said “Dr Mahathir’s leadership was required” as it would ensure the country’s economic and political stability.

His remark at that time drew criticisms from PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s supporters who labelled Azmin as a traitor.

This was due to the agreement reached by the PH presidential council prior to the 14th General Election where it was decided that Anwar will take over the reins from Dr Mahathir after a certain period of time.

The council had also agreed that Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be deputy prime minister and that she will resign when her husband, Anwar takes over Putrajaya.

The date for the power transition has yet to be fixed, but Anwar recently said the council will meet next Friday to finalise the issue.

Azmin, however, said he was unaware that the matter will be the focus of Friday’s meeting.

“It is just a regular monthly meeting. I’m not sure about the agenda. We meet every month,” he said today.

Asked if he would attend the meeting, Azmin offered a short answer: “Insha Allah (God willing).”

When asked if a date would also be set for Dr Wan Azizah to resign, Azmin said: “Don’t worry, we’ll discuss that too.”

Recently, web portal Sarawak Report claimed that members of Parliament from Umno, Pas, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, and PKR were being pressured to sign SDs backing Dr Mahathir as prime minister until the next general election.

Soon after that, sacked Umno supreme council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam alleged that Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was going around collecting the SDs.