KUALA LUMPUR: The planned transition of power from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the prime minister’s post, as agreed and espoused by Pakatan Harapan (PH), has not changed.
Anwar, who is the PKR president, said the transition of power between him and the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairman must be conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner during the appropriate time with the mutual agreement of both leaders.
“We agreed to focus on efforts to develop the economy and prepare (the country) towards hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit.
“We also agreed that there should not be any attempt to deviate from such an agreement or using the prime minister’s or my name for other ploys.
“The prime minister also took note of allegations involving members of the cabinet who abused their power or trying to gain political mileage by offering projects,” Anwar, who is also the Port Dickson member of parliament, said in a statement today.
The statement, Anwar said, was issued after he obtained agreement from the prime minister during a 30-minute meeting between the two at the Perdana Leadership Foundation headquarters in Putrajaya today.
Anwar, in the statement, did not identify any of the ministers or deputy ministers who had allegedly abused their powers for political support by offering projects.
The statement was issued in the wake of rumours of efforts by certain quarters to move a vote of no-confidence against Dr Mahathir following PH’s defeat in the Tanjung Piai parliamentary constituency by-election on Nov 16.
The rumour was triggered by a viral message alleging that Anwar had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara.
Anwar, in Parliament yesterday, denied the rumour and described the viral message as ‘fake news’. He also said a vote of no-confidence against Dr Mahathir was never raised by any of PH leaders.