Shafie as PM and Anwar, Mukhriz as DPMs backed by Amanah, DAP leaders - Dr M
The proposal for Warisan president Shafie Apdal to become prime minister if Pakatan Harapan and its allies can regain federal power has the backing of Amanah, DAP and Warisan leaders, claims disputed Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Mahathir said the decision was arrived at following a meeting between his Bersatu faction and Amanah, Warisan and DAP where it was also agreed that PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and disputed Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir would fill two deputy prime minister positions.
The proposal for Warisan president Shafie Apdal to become prime minister if Pakatan Harapan and its allies can regain federal power has the backing of Amanah, DAP and Warisan leaders, claims disputed Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Mahathir said the decision was arrived at following a meeting between his Bersatu faction and Amanah, Warisan and DAP where it was also agreed that PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and disputed Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir would fill two deputy prime minister positions.
"In the meeting, I was open to any proposal including if I am not to be nominated as the prime ministerial candidate. Among the proposals presented was for Shafie Apdal to become the prime minister.
"We unanimously agreed for Shafie to be named as the prime ministerial candidate. I fully support this proposal. What is important is for us to have a firm stance so that the people know about it," he said.
Mahathir said the informal meeting took place in Kuala Lumpur on June 25.
Among the attendees were Shafie, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP chairperson Tan Kok Wai, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, national organising secretary Anthony Loke and other leaders.
Also present were Bersatu rebels Mukhriz Mahathir and Marzuki Yahya.
However, notably absent was a representative from PKR.
PKR had previously rejected the idea of Mahathir returning as prime minister and is in favour of Anwar taking the top spot.
However, Anwar has struggled to gain sufficient support in the Dewan Rakyat, particularly from the East Malaysia bloc.
If Shafie can win sufficient support in the Dewan Rakyat, he will become the first prime minister from East Malaysia.
However, they will have to convince Anwar and PKR first.
'Sickening 1MDB scandal'
Mohamad and Lim, in a separate statement later, said they viewed the proposal as a potential "option" but stressed that it needed to be approved by Pakatan Harapan first.
Mahathir, in his statement, said the proposal was made following discussions on how to restore the people's mandate - given by the people to Harapan in the 2018 general election - that was "seized" by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
"Some may ask why was Shafie nominated. Perhaps they have forgotten that Shafie was among the leaders who opposed the previous kleptocratic government before the 14th general election.
"He was among the leaders who became the early victims of (then prime minister) Najib Abdul Razak's government and was ousted as a minister and Umno vice-president as he could not accept the corruption and theft of the people's money in the sickening 1MDB scandal.
"At that time, Shafie was with Muhyiddin but Muhyiddin has now left the struggle to return to the fold of kleptocrats who previously punished and ousted him," said Mahathir.
The former prime minister said if the proposal succeeds, it would likely strengthen the relationship between East and West Malaysia.
"I also believe the people can accept this proposal and as it is evident that the personalities in the opposition do not prioritise positions.
"What is important is to resume the struggle that started in 2015 to clean the country of the damage brought about by greedy, arrogant and self-interested government leaders.
"As we are observing now, the actions which we had opposed in the past are now taking root again, the leaders and supporters of kleptocracy have returned," he said.
Mahathir said he hoped the proposal for Harapan to regain power could be realised when the Dewan Rakyat convenes on July 13.
"God-willing, MPs who cannot accept Muhyiddin's backdoor government and want to restore the people's mandate will stand with us and our allies to support Shafie as prime minister.
"If this succeeds, we can fulfil the people's demands to ensure the foundations of democracy. We must end the unelected government," he said.
The Harapan government, which came into power in the 2018 general election, collapsed in late February when Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin pulled his party out of the Harapan coalition government.
Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister on March 1 after Mahathir refused to lead the new coalition Muhyiddin put together comprising Bersatu, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and Star.
Mahathir has been working on a counter-coup plan with Harapan but Muhyiddin appears to have the upper hand in Bersatu. Mahathir and his allies have been ousted from Bersatu.
Muhyiddin is also reportedly considering snap polls as one of his options.
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