Dr M and loyalists to stick with Shafie for PM despite Harapan backing Anwar
Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Bersatu MPs aligned to him will continue to back Warisan president Shafie Apdal as the prime minister candidate if the current Perikatan Nasional government is dislodged from power.
"After some discussion, me and my fellow MPs from Bersatu have decided to adhere to the 'final' decision in June to name Shafie as the prime ministerial candidate...
Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Bersatu MPs aligned to him will continue to back Warisan president Shafie Apdal as the prime minister candidate if the current Perikatan Nasional government is dislodged from power.
"After some discussion, me and my fellow MPs from Bersatu have decided to adhere to the 'final' decision in June to name Shafie as the prime ministerial candidate.
"Although the Pakatan Harapan presidential council has named (PKR president) Anwar (Ibrahim) as the prime minister candidate, that does not involve me and friends from Bersatu or Warisan," said Mahathir in a statement today which was co-signed by five other MPs.
The MPs are his son Mukhriz (Jerlun), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar), Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggang), Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu) and Shahruddin Md Salleh (Sri Gading).
With the exception of Shahruddin, the others have had their Besratu memberships terminated.
Mahathir said their faction would adhere to the recommendations made as a result of discussions between him and the leaders of Warisan, Amanah and DAP on June 25.
"In the discussion, Amanah and DAP had proposed Shafie as prime minister and Anwar and Mukhriz as first and second deputy prime ministers.
"My friends and I from Bersatu agreed and supported the proposal. This is because they wanted to solve the deadlock of choosing a suitable (prime ministerial) candidate to regain the mandate of the people,” he added.
During the June 25 meeting, the former premier said he was asked to announce the decision to choose Shafie and he did so two days later.
"After that announcement was made, DAP and Amanah attended the Harapan presidential council on July 6, from which we were absent and did not name Shafie but instead named Anwar as the PM candidate.
"We believe that nominating Shafie is a positive step, not only because we believe he will be able to get majority support but it is also a step forward in enhancing Peninsular and Sabah and Sarawak relations," he added.
Mahathir and the other MPs said they would sit with Warisan as an independent block in and out of Parliament and would not join any existing combination.
"We also oppose any attempt to replace (Dewan Rakyat) Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and will support a vote of no confidence in (Prime Minister) Muhyiddin Yassin who formed a government that was not elected by the people.
"We still stick to the core of our original principles which is to reject the return of a kleptocratic government," read the statement.
Already said so many times, oldman continues his destruction if PH, in cohort of PN, this is part of his final episode. Warisan don't be stupid, you don't have the number to be appointed PM, you should thank god if you are allocated a DPM.
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