PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said today that he will not accept any post in the event of a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar said that he would not offer himself to join Dr Mahathir’s cabinet.
“I do not intend to join the cabinet,” said Anwar, who is slated to succeed Dr Mahathir as the eighth prime minister under a Pakatan Harapan (PH) arrangement.
He said this after opening the ‘Reformist Convention’ at the Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam today.
Present was Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
In his speech, Anwar reminded leaders and PKR members of PKR to stop raising the power transition for the post of prime minister issue.
“Give space to Dr Mahathir so that the process of transition (of power) can be carried out in a proper manner.
“If the situation is calm and peaceful, it will be easier for (Dr Mahathir) to discharge his duty… I’m not upset and not worried, although there are quarters trying to undermine this understanding (on power transfer),” he said.
Anwar said only the PH Presidential Council could decide on the person to be appointed the eighth prime minister and the date for the power transition.
“The understanding, to me, is clear. The prime minister, deputy prime minister, and myself will wait,” Anwar told reporters.
Yesterday, Dr Mahathir spoke about the response of Cabinet ministers about a possible reshuffle.
“Well, they are not against it. They didn’t say please don’t reshuffle me.”
Dr Mahathir also said the government will look into what the people were unhappy about regarding the various ministries.
“If they feel that we have not done anything, we will try to correct it or if they point out that we must reshuffle, we will consider.”
Dr Mahathir and other PH leaders at the media conference after the PH presidential council meeting.