Dr M: We'll see if there's a vote of no-confidence

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad has decided to take the wait-and-see approach on the allegations by PAS that "something is brewing" within the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

"I will wait and see if there is a vote of no-confidence.

"I will see if PAS will support me or not, " said Dr Mahathir after visiting the Ministry of Defence on Thursday.

He said this in response to statements by the Islamist party pledging support for him in the event of a betrayal from within Pakatan.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan alleged that the betrayal could come from two component parties within Pakatan, but declined to name them.

Takiyuddin said the party had an "inkling" that something was brewing within Pakatan, and this prompted PAS leadership to discuss the matter with Dr Mahathir during a meeting last week.

The discussion, said Takiyuddin, resulted in a draft letter in which PAS pledged that its 18 MPs would support Dr Mahathir should a vote of no-confidence against the Prime Minister take place in the Dewan Rakyat.

Earlier, a blogger had also alleged that a plot was being hatched from within Pakatan against Dr Mahathir via a vote of no-confidence.

Mujahidin Zulkiffli claimed he first heard about the plot to oust Dr Mahathir a few weeks ago from “his sources”.

However, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia said it was confident that its Pakatan allies still backed Dr Mahathir, despite claims he had lost support from PKR and DAP.

Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said there was a firm commitment from all four parties in Pakatan – PKR, DAP, Bersatu and Parti Amanah Negara – on this, adding that he was not aware of any party losing confidence in Dr Mahathir.

For a vote of confidence to succeed in the Dewan Rakyat, it must have the support of at least 112 out of 222 MPs.