Dr M: Pakatan weak? We are very strong

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad says the Pakatan Harapan coalition remains strong despite claims by some that it has weakened since coming to power last year.

He dismissed the notion that the coalition was weak.

"We held a meeting to discuss at length the political situation in this country.

"The meeting was done in a calm manner without any disunity or violence. we negotiated as a coalition that can work together.

"Many think this is a coalition that is weak. It isn't. We are very strong," said Dr Mahathir after chairing the Pakatan presidential council meeting on Friday (Jan 4).

He cited instances during Cabinet and Pakatan meetings where matters were discussed calmly without the use of any harsh words.

"I think this coalition is functioning. It is not weak. We are of the same views on most of the issues that we have discussed," said the Pakatan chairman.

When asked for a time frame on the transition of power, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was also present and seated next to Dr Mahathir during the press conference, said: "There is no issue. It has been resolved."

There was a light moment as Dr Mahathir held the microphone for Anwar as he answered the question.

Asked on a report by Financial Times in which he reportedly said there were attempts within Pakatan to sabotage his path to becoming the next Prime Minister, Anwar denied it.

"I never said that. No fake news will be entertained," he said.

When pressed further on whether the report was true, Anwar clarified that he did not say such things.

"I did not say that. What I said was you cannot deny that there are some elements who may not agree, it is a democratic process.

"What is important is that Pakatan Harapan has agreed, and Tun Mahathir and I have agreed," he said.

On Thursday (Jan 3), Otai Reformasi, a veterans' group known for being loyal to Anwar, claimed there were individuals within PKR who wanted to prevent Anwar from becoming the prime minister in two years.

The claims were made based on the clarifiation by PKR supreme council member and Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah that Dr Mahathir term's as the interim Prime Minister was never discussed at Pakatan's presidential council meetings.

The movement also said that PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali's recent calls for Anwar to review the appointments to the party's central leadership council line-up were connected to attempts to derail the transition of power.