Six Umno lawmakers are in favour of Dr Mahathir Mohamad staying on as prime minister until the 15th general election.
The six cited the economy as their reason for wanting the Bersatu chairman to remain and not be replaced by Anwar Ibrahim.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties have an agreement that Dr Mahathir will hand over his post to Anwar Ibrahim, and it is widely accepted that it will be done some time after May next year.
The six MPs who want the prime minister to stay a full term are Mohd Shahar Abdullah (Paya Besar), Adham Baba (Tenggara), Mastura Mohd Yazid (Kuala Kangsar), Abdul Rahman Mohamad (Lipis), Ismail Muttalib (Maran) and Ahmad Nazlan Idris (Jerantut).
Five of the six MPs from Umno at the Parliament today to state support for Azmin Ali.
Acting as spokesman for the group, Shahar said they are making their stance known to put to rest the issue of transition of power.
“The handing over of power for the prime minister post in two years does not make sense.
“They should stop talking about this issue as it can impact the economy. They were given the mandate to rule,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
It was reported today that former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein is trying to get at least 30 lawmakers from Umno and Barisan Nasional to support Dr Mahathir to remain as prime minister for the full term.
It was learnt that the move started last year in order to stop PKR president Anwar Ibrahim from reaching Putrajaya as agreed and signed by PH leaders on January 7, 2018.
One source told The Malaysian Insight that the “backdoor government” without Amanah and DAP can be formed as early as November when Bersatu gets 60 parliamentary seats compared with the 28 it holds today.
Meanwhile, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi distanced himself from the six MPs, saying their view was not the party’s official stance.
“Umno’s official stance is that we respect the current leadership and government,” Zahid told reporters.
He also dismissed rumours of a backdoor government formed by Azmin and former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein, saying this was only speculation.
“An official government is formed through an election, based on a democratic system. I don’t think this speculation will become a reality.”
Mahathir, who returned to the top post following Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) victory in the 2018 general election, has repeatedly stated that he will keep his word to step down after about two years.
Earlier this month, Anwar said PH leaders had agreed that the date would not be stated in public as it could undermine the current prime minister.