Reject Mahathir’s candidate for PM9, says PKR

(FMT) – Any decision on Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for the prime minister’s position must be decided by the coalition’s Presidential Council, said PKR today.

In a statement, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said no one should make use of any new proposals as part of their political games.

Saifuddin’s statement came in the wake of an announcement yesterday by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad naming Warisan president Shafie Apdal as the opposition’s candidate for the premiership.

“We remind everyone to be careful and not fall into any trap designed to pit the parties in PH against each other as what was done to PKR before this,” he said in an indirect reference to a split in PKR with a breakaway faction led by former deputy president Azmin Ali switching sides to the ruling Perikatan Nasional.

Pakatan Harapan partners Amanah and DAP have said the leadership councils of the two parties have yet to discuss the proposal.

Saifuddin said PKR had already made its stand clear on the matter but was ready to discuss it. “Any decision by PH must be decided by the PH Presidential Council,” said Saifuddin.

He said PKR remained firm on its stand that the people’s mandate, given to PH in the 2018 general election, must be restored as soon as possible. This included the transfer of power from Mahathir to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Saifuddin called for stronger cooperation among PH parties, which have been at odds over the PM candidate issue.

He said PKR and PH would work hard to prepare for any possibilities including snap elections.