De facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim said he will not impose a time frame to succeed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Some people see this transition (from BN to Pakatan Harapan) as fragile, but I don’t," Anwar told The Star Online in an interview.

"The fragility will come about only if there are major battles waged between me and Mahathir, but I have made it very clear.

"Number one, he is the prime minister, and number two, I refuse to give a time frame."

This is the clearest indication yet that Anwar and Harapan will not be pressuring Mahathir to stick to the coalition's pledge on stepping aside in two years for the PKR leader.

Anwar told the interviewees that Mahathir must be given sufficient space and time to institutionalise the reforms promised by Harapan.

Read more: Dr M: I’ll serve for as long as the people want me to

Last week, Mahathir had suggested that his second stint as prime minister may be longer or shorter than two years, and that Harapan had not committed to the two-year transition plan.

Anwar said imposing a time frame on Mahathir would only weaken his current position and curtail his immediate priorities, such as tackling graft and gaining public confidence.

"Let’s give him the support which is needed in this period," said Anwar. "I must give him the latitude and space to govern effectively and therefore, I know my role.

"That’s why I take a minimal role. Some people in PKR are now really upset with the recent developments, but I said: 'Look, give him the space, let him run the show'."

Recent actions endorsed by Mahathir

Anwar reiterated that some of his recent actions, including an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the appointment of the new attorney-general, were explicitly endorsed by Mahathir.

"I mentioned to the prime minister that there is a necessity, and he said 'proceed'. The prime minister allows me to do that; it's because I presented the prime minister's case to support his choice," said Anwar.

On his acrimonious past with Mahathir, Anwar said he wanted to let bygones be bygones.

"He (Mahathir) has said that it was a mistake, that he should not have sacked Anwar, and that Anwar should be the next prime minister. That's enough for me."

On speculation as to who would be deputy prime minister when he is prime minister, Anwar did not provide a direct answer, but instead suggested that it could be PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin or PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

“The understanding of Harapan now is that it should be Mahathir-Azizah, to be replaced later by Anwar, and they (Harapan) will name my deputy.”

On PKR's internal elections in August, Anwar said there were suggestions that he takes up the party presidency, but he has not made any decision yet.