Succession plan remains, but let Dr M clean up the govt first, says Mukhriz

PUTRAJAYA: Let Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad clean up the government before handing it over to his successor, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, says Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy president said Dr Mahathir should be given the room and the opportunity to fix things before passing on the baton to his successor.

He was addressing rumours that there was a motion in the Bersatu assembly for Dr Mahathir to remain as Prime Minister until the next general election.

“There are many suggestions that were raised, even though Dr Mahathir himself stressed that this depends on the opinions of the partners in Pakatan Harapan and the rakyat themselves.

“These comments must be taken into consideration before a decision is made (on the matter),” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Bersatu annual general meeting on Sunday (Dec 30).

Mukhriz added that he believes the motion may be a good one, as the inherited government machinery requires time to be restored.

“Personally, I feel it is a good suggestion, as I have mentioned before. We have inherited a corrupt government, and to restore it is not an easy task,” he said.

He added that it doesn’t contravene the agreement that the Pakatan coalition's plan for PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take over as the next prime minister.

“We are planning for Anwar to be the heir apparent after Dr Mahathir as the eighth prime minister.

“The timing is the issue,” he said, adding that they wanted to pass a government that is “totally intact” to him.

The agreement in the Pakatan government had been for Dr Mahathir to helm the government for two years before handing the premiership to Anwar.