Issue of who becomes PM, DPM if Pakatan wins not resolved - Salleh

Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak has described Lim Kit Siang's statement yesterday as sounding like the issue of the next prime minister and deputy prime minister if Pakatan Harapan won the general election (GE) had already been resolved, when in actual fact it was not the case.

The communications and multimedia minister pointed out that earlier, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli had said that if Pakatan won the next GE, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would become the new prime minister.

"Before that, during a talk in the United Kingdom, (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia or PPBM president) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would be the prime minister and then back-tracked and said it was too early to decide that.

"Now, Kit Siang says (PKR president) Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Muhyiddin will the interim or temporary prime minister and deputy prime minister, respectively," he posted on his blog at http://sskeruak.blogspot.my/, last night.

Local media reported that at an event in Penang last night, Kit Siang, who is DAP adviser, was reported as proposing Wan Azizah and Muhyiddin be made interim prime minister and deputy prime minister if the Opposition won the next GE.

"This means Wan Azizah will be prime minister just for a few months until Anwar is pardoned by Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is freed from jail, a PKR MP vacates his or her seat, a by-election is held, and Anwar wins that by-election and takes over as prime minister, the whole process should take a few months," said Salleh.

Salleh, who is also UMNO treasurer noted that once Anwar took over as prime minister, he would choose his deputy to replace the interim deputy prime minister, Muhyiddin.

"Who Anwar’s deputy prime minister is going to be, is not known at this stage," he said.

He also stressed that Kit Siang did not say whether the proposal for interim prime minister and deputy prime minister was based on consensus and whether it had the agreement of all parties in Pakatan, including Dr Mahathir’s PPBM.

Salleh asked whether this also applied in the event DAP won the most number of parliamentary seats in the GE, and some of those who won were DAP’s Malay candidates.

"What happens if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong does not grant Anwar a pardon since Anwar never applied for one? Will Anwar agree to apply for his pardon or will be still insist that he is not going to apply for it as this would be tantamount to an admission of guilt?

"Will the interim prime minister and deputy prime minister then continue to hold office indefinitely, if Anwar fails to get pardoned and released?," he asked.

Salleh said Kit Siang should also state what would happen if Anwar did not get pardoned and released.

"So that, we know he has a backup or alternative plan," he added. -- Bernama