'We nominated Anwar after Dr M declined to attend meet to restore Harapan gov't'

UPDATED 9.30PM | Pakatan Harapan has confirmed that it has nominated Anwar Ibrahim as the next prime minister instead of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The coalition said this is after Mahathir, who is now serving as the interim prime minister, refused to chair the Harapan presidential council meeting on Tuesday.

That meeting was held to restore the previous Harapan-led government led by Mahathir, which has since collapsed.

"Following the attempt to form a government through the backdoor, Mahathir resigned as prime minister.

“The decision by Bersatu to quit Harapan was followed by Mahathir's decision to quit as the Bersatu chairperson.

"Following this, the presidential council invited Mahathir to chair its meeting to revive the Harapan government.

“But Tun (Mahathir) did not agree to attend the meeting which was held on Feb 25." 

"Thus, the presidential council yesterday decided that the prime minister candidate for Pakatan Harapan is Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim," PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said, reading from a statement, at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya this evening.

Anwar said this during a special media conference by Pakatan Harapan's top leadership, which was held after Mahathir's special announcement at 4.45pm where the interim prime minister said he would try to form "an administration that doesn't side with any party".

The press conference by Anwar was initially scheduled to be held at 4.30pm but was delayed to more than an hour due to Mahathir's announcement.

It is believed that Anwar delayed addressing the media as he held a special meeting with the coalition leaders following Mahathir's statement before addressing the press.

Anwar says he has the numbers

The former deputy prime minister, who was sacked by Mahathir in 1998 during the latter's first term of premiership, told reporters that "all activities should cease" pending the Agong's decision on who would be the next prime minister.

"On other things, we have to respect the wisdom, decision and discretion of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong according to the constitution," he said.

However, when pressed by the media on whether he has the numbers to command support from the majority of parliamentarians, Anwar voiced his confidence.

"If not, we would not have come here," said Anwar.

But, in a split second, he seemed to backtrack on what he said, citing that it would be impolite to discuss the matter at this juncture.

"Sorry, on the issue of numbers, we have now surrendered, (we have) left it to the discretion of the Agong.

"It is completely improper, impolite to discuss that question because only the Agong is privy to that matter."

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