Pakatan Harapan has yet to finalise its prime ministerial candidate on the eve of its national convention tomorrow, where a major announcement is expected to be made.

This is according to Pakatan Harapan Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, who said the coalition will discuss the matter today.

"The entire coalition has yet to finalise (its candidate for prime minister). As it is now, it is still in the process (of discussion)," she told the media at the Harapan Wanita convention held in Kajang, but declined to say whether a decision would be reached by today. 

This comes amid speculation that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim (photo) pledged not to support Dr Mahathir Mohamad, despite three of the parties in the opposition coalition agreeing to the latter as prime minister.

On PKR's stance, Zuraida said the party has made several statements, including against naming its preferred candidate at the convention tomorrow.

"There are other things to be focused on, like what we can do for the rakyat and the changes we can bring. And if our offers are good, it doesn't matter who will become the prime minister," she said.

According to Zuraida, the convention will also address seat allocation and winnable candidates, as well as preparations for the coming general election.

On a personal noted, she stressed that that Mahathir is fit to be a senior minister, "but not a prime minister," should Harapan win at the polls. 

"He has his track record. As a statesperson of calibre, he should promote himself as senior minister, instead of coming back as a PM... one should move up."

A woman PM?

Meanwhile, opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who attended today's Harapan Wanita convention, said the coalition has many possible candidates for prime minister.

"We have many qualified candidates, we want to take into account the winnability factor and the woman factor. A woman can also become the candidate," she told the press conference.

Wan Azizah, who also told the convention that her husband Anwar Ibrahim will be released in June, dismissed the notion of an internal crisis within PKR over the naming of Mahathir as prime ministerial candidate. 

"No, we are solid," she stressed, reiterating that Harapan has not finalised its candidate. 

Malaysiakini previously reported that the opposition planned to name Mahathir and Wan Azizah as its prime minister and deputy prime minister candidates by tomorrow.

Insiders also noted that the only obstruction to this proposal came from PKR, who would only endorse Mahathir if he agrees to pursue Anwar’s release from prison and hand over power to him after he is freed.

'Unhealthy polemics'

Meanwhile Penang PKR chairperson Mansor Othman called for an end to the polemics around Harapan's choice of PM, saying it was “unhealthy.”

“It has aroused unease among certain quarters, to the point the people get the impression the coalition is scrambling to seize the seat of power.

“Such an atmosphere is not healthy if it is allowed to drag on, and could potentially weaken the spirit of supporters and the various parties' election machinery,” he said in a statement today.

The former Penang deputy chief minister said what was more critical was for Harapan to give the people assurance that their woes such as rising cost of living would be tackled.

“Therefore a joint manifesto that shows everyone in the Harapan coalition is sincere and on the same page, is what is most important for discussion, not to continue discussing matters that can cause rifts in the good relations between Harapan parties,” he said.