The Malaysian Insight

PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali owes Pakatan Harapan (PH) an explanation for wanting Dr Mahathir Mohamad to serve a full term as prime minister, instead of handing over to party president Anwar Ibrahim as agreed, said the party’s youth chief.

Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir questioned why Azmin had supported the opposition’s call for Dr Mahathir to serve a full term, when the handover to Anwar had been agreed by all PH parties before the general election last year.

“If Azmin is going to take a different stand, he should give an explanation to the PH presidential council,” Akmal told The Malaysian Insight after an event in Balik Pulau, Penang, last night.

“He should abide by PH’s agreement. This matter of succession had already been discussed at length, and an agreement was reached.”

Under the agreement, Dr Mahathir is to hand over to Anwar in about two years, or around mid-way before the next general election that is due by 2023.

Dr Mahathir has repeatedly said he would stick to the agreement although he specify when, saying it would depend on how much he could restore the country’s economic and financial stability.

Earlier today, PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is in Azmin’s camp, had voiced support for Dr Mahathir to serve a full term.

She said it was what the country needed and urged PH leaders not to be led by their own interests.

Azmin this week had voiced his support for Dr Mahathir to serve a full term to ensure the country’s stability.

Yesterday, he said it did not mean he was against Anwar as the eventual successor.

This comes after news of a meeting between Dr Mahathir and opposition representatives last Tuesday, at which those present urged him to complete his term.

It was speculated that Azmin, who is economic affairs minister, had been the only minister present at the meeting, a fact he did not address when asked yesterday.

Others at the meeting are said to be former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, PAS vice-president Samsuri Ahmad Mokhtar, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and Gabungan Parti Sarawak chief whip Fadillah Yusof.

Azmin is also under the spotlight after being implicated in a sex video with another man, former Santubong PKR Youth chief Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz.

Azmin had denied being in the video and called it a plot to destroy his career.

However, there were factions within PKR demanding his resignation or for the party to sack him, saying he had not done enough to clear his name and had tarnished the party’s image. – August 3, 2019.