MEMBAKUT: The timeline for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to step down as prime minister must be discussed amicably, said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Port Dickson MP said the process of power transition must be carried out well, taking into account Dr Mahathir's vast experience and contributions.
"We have promises and agreement, so by right, it (power transition) should be done in a good way.
"I don't agree if the process is not carried out in a peaceful manner and disorganised," he told reporters when met on the sidelines of a ceramah in the ongoing Kimanis by-election campaign at Kampung Pimping, here, today.
Anwar was responding to Dr Mahathir's statement that he was ready to step down anytime as the prime minister if the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Presidential Council wanted him to go .
Dr Mahathir however said the matter has to be decided among leaders of all parties in the PH ruling coalition.
When asked whether he agreed to some PKR leaders wanting Mahathir to step down in May, Anwar reiterated such matters needed to be discussed in a peaceful manner.
"They (PKR leaders) are committed to the understanding of what the Prime Minister himself had said in the past. But this should be resolved in PH and Bersatu.
"Or even, in my mind, Tun Mahathir's own provision to do it, so it will not be intepreted in a negative manner in any way," he stressed.
To a question on when would be the best time for him to step up as prime minister so that PH would be better prepared for the next general election, he reiterated:
"As I said this must be amicably resolved between me and him. But I give a lot of deference to Mahathir."
Earlier in his ceramah, Anwar expressed his strong support to the leadership of Chief Minister and Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
"For me, Insya-Allah, now I give full support to Shafie. In the country, I give my full support to Mahathir as our prime minister. When it is my turn to become the Prime Minister, I want all of you to throw your support.
"But before that, Warisan needs to win in Kimanis," he said.
Anwar also commended Sabah for its healthy politics, noting leaders could sit together and discuss issues pertaining to race and religion.
"This is unlike in Semenanjung.. I want Kimanis to give a clear message that Semenanjung should learn from you because this is your contribution to break the wall (of race and religious extremism)," he added.