Amanah: Anwar’s ‘wise decision’ reflects need to remove distractions
Salahuddin Ayub says he shares Anwar’s concern that PPBM’s proposition to occupy top two posts in Pakatan Harapan was worrying.
(FMT) – Amanah has lauded Anwar Ibrahim’s move not to offer himself as Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) prime ministerial candidate for the 14th general election (GE14), saying it showed the PKR de facto leader’s determination to remove distractions coming in the path of defeating the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
Its deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said it was a wise decision as the opposition coalition needs to move forward instead of being weighed down by issues over who should be the prime minister if it wins the election due by the middle of next year.
He said Anwar knows what is best for PH in any situation, including the recent scenario where PPBM apparently wanted to lead the coalition.
“He has shed light on this for us, for PH to move forward and to forget about who will be the next prime minister,” Salahuddin told FMT.
He said it is time for PH component parties to show their strength in unity and convince the people of their cooperation and capabilities.
He also said he concurred with Anwar’s concern that PPBM’s proposition was worrying.
Salahuddin said it was time for differences in the coalition to be set aside for the sake of the people.
“We need to put aside all our differences and advance forward. The people want to know what we can offer to solve their problems,” he said.
In a statement yesterday, Anwar had said that PPBM had a proposal to reshuffle PH’s leadership structure with its own party leaders occupying the posts of chairman and president.
He said the idea was worrying as such a move would cause the coalition’s framework to be remodelled to that of the BN.
“Therefore the readiness of all parties in PH to review and defer the proposal by maintaining the original consensus within PH is welcome,” he said.
PPBM joined PH on March 20. The original members of the coalition, PKR, DAP and Amanah, have all supported Anwar to be the prime minister if the coalition takes over the government.
The Malay Mail Online reported on June 9 that PPBM had proposed that its leaders Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin to be chairman and president respectively. They are holding the very same designations in their own party.
PPBM deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir later confirmed that the party had an alternative proposal for the leadership lineup but declined to reveal details.
This was after the PKR congress on May 21 saw party delegates carrying placards that read “Anwar the 7th PM”. Among those who held up the cards were DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.
However, Mahathir and Muhyiddin who were present refrained from doing so.
Anwar, the former opposition parliamentary leader, has been serving a 5-year jail term over a controversial sodomy conviction since February 2015,
