Dr M: I will retire on my own terms
.PUTRAJAYA: The Pakatan Harapan leadership had decided not to set a fixed date for the power transition plan between Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Instead, the ruling coalition allowed Mahathir to decide on his own retirement date, with no strings attached.
“I’ve already said (it’s) after the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit (in November). No time…no date…nothing. It’s up to me to determine the date,” he told a press conference after chairing the meeting at the Perdana Leadership Foundation yesterday.
Mahathir, who is PH chairman, said the decision was made unanimously.
The meeting, which lasted about three hours, was attended by PH president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu.
Asked if the meeting also decided that it would be Anwar who would be succeeding him, Mahathir said: “That doesn’t arise. The position is for me to make the decision after APEC.”
In addition, the prime minister said the ruling coalition also discussed, among others, component party matters and preparations for the Sarawak state election.
“We discussed about the Sarawak state election and we will decide on our candidates to ensure that there is no clash among component parties,” he said.
Mahathir also reiterated that the meeting did discuss anything on a possible Cabinet reshuffle and the ruling coalition would hold a convention on a date that would be decided later.
On related matter, Anwar, who was seated next to Mahathir said he welcomed the decision made by the Pakatan leadership and would wait for his turn.
“I myself suggested that Mahathir be given space to administer and when the time comes, he will fix a suitable date, and in the meantime, I have to be patient.”
“Our stand is clear, no doubts; our commitment is to ensure that Tun Dr Mahathir as prime minister can discharge his duties with full support. This was not questioned,” he said.
By G Vinod
