Shafie grateful for PM nomination but wants consultation
Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal said he is grateful for the proposal for him to be the prime ministerial candidate for Pakatan Harapan and its allies but he needed to first consult his political colleagues.
This was after former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad revealed that he met with Amanah, DAP and Warisan leaders on June 25 where they agreed to nominate Shafie (above) as the prime ministerial candidate. PKR was absent from the meeting.
Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal said he is grateful for the proposal to make him the prime ministerial candidate for Pakatan Harapan and its allies but he needed to first consult his political colleagues.
This was after former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad revealed that he met with Amanah, DAP and Warisan leaders on June 25 where they agreed to nominate Shafie (above) for the position. PKR was absent from the meeting.
“I am grateful for this coming from Mahathir, a man of world standing, mentioning my name as the prime minister of choice.
“I have to consider the matter seriously. I have yet to consult with my political colleagues, including my Warisan deputy president," he was quoted as saying in Kota Kinabalu today by Free Malaysia Today.
The Semporna MP, who said he wasn't sure if he could muster the support of enough MPs to gain a parliamentary majority, added that he had yet to get feedback from Sabah DAP or PKR on the matter.
Shafie said Mahathir's proposal may be aimed at uniting the people but there was much to consider.
"I have to look into all aspects as this position will require me to think about the whole nation.
"I will also have to think about who will be the next chief minister of Sabah," he added.
Amanah and DAP had said they viewed Shafie's nomination as an option but they needed to discuss the matter internally as well as at the Harapan presidential council.
The proposal appears to be an attempt to break the impasse between Mahathir and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim over who should be the prime ministerial candidate for Harapan and to attract support from East Malaysia.
PKR had been opposed to Mahathir as the prime ministerial candidate and wants Anwar instead.
Yesterday, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution (above) said his party was ready to revisit the issue of Harapan's prime ministerial candidate in light of the new proposal.
However, he advised caution against efforts to split the coalition.
"Even though PKR already stated its position in the issue of the prime ministerial candidate, it is ready to discuss (further), but any decision at the Harapan level must be made at the Harapan presidential council.
"Any proposal should not be turned into a personal political game by leaders.
"At the same time, PKR reminds all quarters to be vigilant and not become entrapped by any efforts aimed at pitting Harapan parties against each other, as had been done to PKR previously," Saifuddin said.
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