Anwar: PM, DPM holding ministerial posts not against Pakatan manifesto

(MMO) – The prime minister and deputy prime minister holding ministerial positions does not contravene Pakatan Harapan’s GE14 manifesto, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said.

Anwar argued that the two top posts are not portfolios, adding that the key issue is that the prime minister does not also hold the post of finance minister.

“I think that doesn’t go contrary (to the manifesto). To my understanding, the Prime Minister is not a portfolio.

“The Prime Minister manages the country generally, so does the Deputy PM. These are not portfolios,” he was quoted saying by local daily The Star.

Prior to being voted into power in the 14th general elections (GE14), PH had outlined 60 promises in a 203-page manifesto titled Buku Harapan — Membina Negara Memenuhi Harapan (Book of Hope: Building the Nation, Fulfilling Hopes).

Among other things, the 12th promise outlined there stated that the prime minister post will be restricted to two terms only and that the prime minister “will not hold the positions of other ministers, especially the position of Finance Minister”.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that he would take on the education minister post, while Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would be holding the Women’s Affairs and Welfare Minister post.

Pakatan Harapan leaders yesterday said Dr Mahathir’s double portfolio is just “temporary”.