No one should be pressured on transition of power, says Anwar.
Top of the agenda for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council meeting tomorrow is on Malaysia’s economy, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.
The PKR president added that the much-touted transition of power from Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to him was less of a priority, despite the chorus of calls these past few months pushing for a clear date to be set.
“The transition is part of the deal and it can be resolved in half an hour.
“The focus is on the economy,” Anwar told reporters this afternoon.
Anwar also said he and Mahathir should not be pressured on the transition of power, reiterating that the prime minister has already stated that it will happen after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.
Anwar said the PH presidential council, Mahathir and himself want a peaceful and orderly power transition while continuing to work together.
“We’ll deal with this and I don’t think anyone should be put under pressure. Neither me nor Mahathir,” he said.
Pressed if there were specific dates being looked at for the transition, Anwar curtly said “we will discuss”, without elaborating.
Various parties and MPs have urged Mahathir to set a date for the transfer of power to Anwar, leading the PKR president to call on PH members to refrain from discussing the matter in public.
Anwar is also open to the idea of including Mahathir in his cabinet.
“I leave it to the PH presidential council, and I am open to the idea.
“It is great for the country because his past experience would certainly help in terms of getting more peaceful transition and stir the economic forward,” he said.
However, Anwar reiterated that he would not be joining Mahathir’s cabinet.
“It’s not in the plan,” he said.