Muhyiddin may back Dr Wan Azizah as Pakatan president if Dr M made chairman
Dr Mahathir to head Pakatan Harapan’s presidential council meetings while Dr Wan Azizah drives the pact’s reform agenda
(MMO) – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would support Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the Pakatan Harapan presidency should Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad become chairman, the pact’s chief secretary has revealed.
Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah explained that discussions on the matter were ongoing, but added the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president was agreeable to yielding to the PKR president in such a scenario.
“Muhyiddin willing not to be president and willing to have Wan Azizah as president, but on condition that Tun Mahathir must be made chairman,” Saifuddin told Malay Mail Online when contacted.
He explained that the role of president and chairman meant a dividing up of responsibilities at the top, and that the former was of a “coordinator” for the Pakatan Harapan coalition.
Other ideas being explored were for the chairman to head the presidential council meetings while the president drives the pact’s reform agenda, he added.
“What we are sure is that the structure is not equivalent to a shadow cabinet/prime ninister designate,” the Pakatan Harapan chief secretary said.
PPBM recently proposed that Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin be appointed Pakatan Harapan’s chairman and president, respectively, with PKR’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as adviser.
In PPBM’s proposal for the official Pakatan Harapan presidential council lineup, the less-than-a-year-old party suggested that Dr Wan Azizah be the deputy chair, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as Pakatan Harapan deputy president, and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu as the coalition’s vice presidents.
Pakatan Harapan’s initial proposal had placed Dr Wan Azizah as chair of the federal Opposition coalition, together with Muhyiddin, Mohamad and Lim as the vice chairmen.
PPBM only officially joined Pakatan Harapan in March. The coalition is planning to formally register with the Registrar of Societies, ahead of the 14th general election due by August next year.
