Tun Mahathir, five other MPs stick with Shafie as PM candidate

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has insisted on naming Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as the prime ministerial candidate.

In a statement today, the Langkawi Member of Parliament said he and five other MPs is adhering to the final decision of an informal meeting between himself, DAP, Amanah, and Warisan on June 25.

He added that although the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council had nominated Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the prime ministerial candidate, it did not involve him and his friends from Bersatu or Warisan.

“In the discussion, Amanah and the DAP have proposed Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal as the prime minister and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as the first and second deputy prime minister.

"My friends and I from Bersatu have agreed and supported the proposal. This is because they want to resolve the deadlock in choosing the right candidate and be able to get support to get the people's mandate back from the current government," he added.

Following that, Dr Mahathir said, the meeting on 25 June 2020 had asked him to make an announcement on the decision to nominate Shafie, and it was done on 27 June 2020.

However, he further explained that after the announcement was made, DAP and Amanah, however, when attending the PH Presidential Council meeting on July 6, 2020, did not adhere to the decision to nominate Shafie, instead nominating Anwar as the prime ministerial candidate.

"For us, nominating Datuk Seri Shafie as Prime Minister is a positive step that needs to be taken.

"This is not only because we believe he will be able to gain the support of the majority but also a step forward in enhancing relations between the Peninsular and Sabah and Sarawak," he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said he and the five MPs - Mukhriz (Jerlun), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar), Dr Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam), Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu), and Datuk Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh (Sri Gading), decided to stay with Warisan as an independent bloc inside and outside Parliament.

He added that they will not join any coalition.

“We are also opposed to any attempt to replace the Speaker and will continue the motion of no confidence on Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who set up a government not elected by the people.

"We are still at the forefront of our original struggle to reject the return of the kleptocratic government," he added.