PM candidate issue: Anwar will discuss with Shafie Apdal

PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will hold talks with all parties, including Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, on efforts to restore the people's mandate.

In a statement today, the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council said the mandate was given to Anwar to seek the support of all parties, including the Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president.

According to the statement signed by Anwar, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng, the Presidential Council is still committed to the original stance that Anwar remains the prime ministerial candidate.

“The Presidential Council has discussed efforts to restore the mandate of the people and Pakatan Harapan as the federal government.

“Pakatan Harapan is in line with its original stand for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the prime ministerial candidate and the meeting also discussed Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal's nomination as prime minister.

“The Presidential Council believes that all efforts towards restoring the people's mandate must be carried out and require the support of all parties.

“Therefore, the Presidential Council has given full mandate to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to continue discussions with all parties including Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to complete the restoration of the mandate,” it said.

Earlier, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Pakatan Harapan had agreed to have Mohd Shafie nominated as prime minister, with Anwar and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as deputy prime ministers 1 and 2 respectively.

However, the DAP and Amanah later issued a statement that the decision should be discussed at the party's leadership level, before being finalized by the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council.

Mohd Shafie later said he would first consider the nomination while at the same time focusing on Sabah's issues.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Council said they unanimously rejected the proposal by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to terminate the services of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and his deputy Nga Kor Ming.

In addition, they said that if the general election was to happen, the state government under the Pakatan Harapan administration should continue.