Dr M: I'm top dog in Pakatan Harapan

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he is the "top dog" in Pakatan Harapan by virtue of his appointment as chairman of the Opposition coalition.

“I am one of the leaders but it is agreed that I am the chairman. I will chair the presidential council and to a certain extent in the hierarchy in Pakatan, I’m a top dog there, lah,” he told a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here Tuesday.

Dr Mahathir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman, was replying to a question whether his position was equivalent to that of prime minister designate.

The veteran statesman was recently appointed Pakatan chairman, with his former nemesis, PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, named the de-facto leader and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail the president.

Dr Mahathir had reportedly said that the everyone in the pact was “equal among each other”.

Pressed further, Dr Mahathir said a country could not have three prime ministers at the same time.

“Now, there’s only one prime minister. There’s a need of a leader to lead the respective parties,” he said, adding there was no problem between him and Dr Wan Azizah in terms of hierarchy.

“Even in Pribumi, we have a chairman and a president, who is Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. But have you seen us fighting with each other? No,” he said.

Earlier at the press conference, Dr Mahathir challenged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to a debate, adding it could serve as an opportunity for both of them to clear their names.

The Nothing To Hide 2.0 debate was proposed to be held on Aug 13 in Shah Alam.