The Malaysian Insight

ALL Pakatan Harapan leaders agreed that Anwar Ibrahim will take over from Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the coalition’s first term in office, said a senior DAP strategist.

But a specific time within that term in office for the handover of power was not set in the agreement, said DAP political education bureau chief Liew Chin Tong.

However, Liew said since PH took office after the 14th general election, there have been varying interpretations over the time frame with Dr Mahathir saying he will not stay more than three years. 

Other quarters have said the changeover will occur in the mid-term or 2½ years from the date PH takes over the federal government.

In an interview with The Malaysian Insight, Liew said there were differing interpretations on the time frame.

Liew: I think the interpretations are not far apart. Tun said in New York the latest is three years. But from the beginning it’s in the that period.

TMI: Or is 2½ years?

Liew: The most is three years and 2½ years. I don’t think the time frame is far off according to their interpretations.

Liew’s comments come after another round of heated speculation among PH members over the transition plan between Anwar and his mentor-turned-enemy-turned ally, Mahathir.

Anwar is president of PKR while Dr Mahathir is chairman of Bersatu. Both PKR and Bersatu are part of the four-party PH alliance in federal power.

The transition plan was agreed to, not just between Anwar and Dr Mahathir, but by the top leaders of all four PH parties, said Liew.

The deputy defence minister has often taken part in PH presidential council meetings, the top decision-making body of the alliance. He admits that there are people in PH who do not want the transition to take place.

“There are people (who don’t want the transition to take place). But the ultimate point is the ones who made the agreement. The main leaders involved still hold to the agreement,” Liew told The Malaysian Insight.

“Between Dr Mahathir and Anwar, they have clearly responded to this question on the transition.

“Of course, there are people who have different viewpoints, we can’t stop that. But the point is, till this day, the people who made the promise are holding on to it.”

The promise between Anwar and Dr Mahathir was sealed in early 2018 when the top leaders of all four parties agreed to form the PH alliance to contest GE14.

Anwar, who was jailed but had the support of PKR, DAP and Amanah, agreed to allow Dr Mahathir lead the alliance in GE14 and become its prime minister.

In exchange, the PH government would free Anwar, get him a royal rardon, and Dr Mahathir would hand over the reins of power to him in the middle of the administration’s term.

Because there was no definite time frame, Anwar’s supporters have questioned whether the transition will occur while Dr Mahathir has said he will not stay on beyond three years.

Dr Mahathir’s supporters in Bersatu, meanwhile, want the 94-year-old to serve out his term in office.  

Liew told The Malaysian Insight that the PH government is not based on the assumption that it’s either a Dr Mahathir administration or one that “belongs” to Anwar.

“This is a coalition government. It’s not a government where the DAP calls the shots or Bersatu is the strongest. This is a government that is led by both Dr Mahathir and Anwar.

“This is a Pakatan government. Not just a Dr Mahathir government and after Anwar takes over, it does not become an Anwar government.  

“It does not mean that after Anwar takes over, he will sideline Dr Mahathir. I don’t think that should be done, because all its top leaders understand that this is a coalition government.” – October 17, 2019.