Anwar still PH's front runner for PM

SHAH ALAM - Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed that he is still the sole prime minister (PM) candidate if Pakatan Harapan (PH) is successful in taking over the federal administration in the coming 15th General Election (GE15).

The PH chairman however stressed that it is not the coalition’s priority to name their PM candidate or poster boy representing the coalition for GE15 at the moment.

He said that serving and aiding the people were the priority instead.

“At the moment I haven't seen any changes (to the PM candidate). We can discuss (who is the PM candidate), but for me, this is not a priority.

“Even though PKR already knows who is the candidate, DAP has also announced it and Amanah President Mohamad Sabu in his conversation with me has stated the same,’’ he said in an interview with Sinar Harian, Malaysiakini and the Vibes yesterday.

For Umno, the party has announced Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the PM candidate for GE15.

The decision was made by the party supreme council (MT) that was chaired by Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last week.

Bersatu recently nominated its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to be their PM candidate in GE15.

Meanwhile, Anwar does not see the polemic surrounding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Transformation and Political Stability between PH and the government as too important to discuss at the moment.

Still uncertain on GE15

Anwar commented that the termination of the MoU, due to expire in July of this year, does not necessarily trigger GE15.

The PKR president explained that the issues depended on the stance of government and opposition parties to determine their respective objectives that needed to be achieved after the MoU expired.

He commented further that the MoU was merely a platform to deal with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“I don't think this (the MoU polemic) is too important for PH because PH has always stated that it respects the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s strong advice towards political cooperation between the government and opposition parties regardless of who is the PM.

“From this point of cooperation, we put forward several main issues including the effort to deal with Covid-19, poverty and parliamentary reform.

“I did not say that the people are happy completely but we cannot deny its success on the insistence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“So it is still unsure when the MoU expires, then GE15 will be held. That is up to the stance of each government and opposition parties,’’ he said.

Anwar was commenting on the Umno MT’s decision not to extend support of the MoU after July 31.

Commenting further, Anwar acknowledged Umno’s insistence on ending the MoU and calling for an immediate GE15 was because of their arrogance from their recent win in the Johor and Melaka state election.

However, Anwar said that it remains uncertain whether Umno would win in GE15.

“Umno can only give their opinion and should not consider themselves as the government and determine everything as the party has only 42 seats in Parliament.

“I would like to advise them that any government must view their respective strengths and accept that the MoU negotiations were between PH and the PM as well as his team in the government.

“Coming back to the MoU, I would like to explain that we (PH) will make sure that the agreement (will be fulfilled) by the end of July and we are ready to negotiate again if there is a need to extend it,’’ he said.

Anwar says yes to big tent approach

Anwar says the opposition’s ‘big tent’ approach should not cause a split within PKR when the party holds elections in May.

This comes after PKR’s vice-president Rafizi Ramli who is contesting for the party's number 2 post rejected calls from several opposition leaders for PKR and Pakatan Harapan (PH) to adopt the “big tent” approach to unite all opposition parties for the 15th general election (GE15).

But Anwar said PH should discuss the matter with other parties too as long they are willing to bow to PH's agenda.

The Port Dickson MP further said the PH coalition had discussed the matter too.

"It is about building a strong opposition front so that the hostility among opposition parties does not seem obvious," Anwar added.