Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang has accused DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang of being Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's apologist.

This was over Mahathir's decision to appoint himself as education minister, although Pakatan Harapan's manifesto had pledged to bar the prime minister from holding more than one portfolio.

Lim had argued that this was acceptable because it did not violate the spirit of the document because the goal was to impose term limits for the prime minister and ensure that the prime minister could not hold the Finance Ministry portfolio.

In a series of tweets today, Tan disagreed with Lim because the wording on Harapan's manifesto was very clear.

"Such a shame that you are not upholding your own Harapan manifesto which DAP endorsed.

"Worst still is to be an apologist. Lost of respect!

"I didn't expect him to suddenly turn into an apologist for a governing coalition.

"So fast. But I got to admit this... He's good at it," said Tan, who was the first BN figure to "remind" Harapan of item 12 of their manifesto yesterday.

Many interpretations

Yesterday, Malaysiakini verified with numerous Harapan leaders that cabinet position negotiations were conducted with the impression that the coalition's election pledge was only to prevent the prime minister from assuming the finance minister's position.

However, Bersatu chief strategist Rais Hussin said it was likely that Mahathir's "double portfolio" was a temporary arrangement.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua urged the public to have faith in Mahathir's decision, while speculating that the premier may have cost-cutting measures in mind by taking on two roles.

Meanwhile, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was once education minister and later finance minister, said he had no problem with Mahathir's decision.

Anwar said the prime minister's position should not be regarded as a portfolio in itself.

"The prime minister manages the country generally, so does the deputy prime minister (Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail).

"These are not portfolios," said Anwar, according to The Star.