Nothing wrong in our MPs meeting PM, say Opposition leaders

PETALING JAYA: Umno and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) have no problem with their MPs meeting Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said party senior leaders.

"I knew about the meeting. Umno MPs would meet Dr Mahathir every now and then. We (Umno) have no problem with that, " said Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

"It's good to listen to what the Prime Minister has to say. The decision, however, remain ours (to make).

"We are the opposition and numbers do not really matter to us since we have decided to remain as opposition until the next general election. Numbers matter to Dr Mahathir and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Let them handle their own drama, " said Annuar.

Anwar is set to take over the reins from Dr Mahathir under a Pakatan Harapan agreement prior to the last general election but no timeframe has formally been set.

Annuar was commenting on a meeting between Dr Mahathir and representatives of the opposition bloc - Umno, PAS and GPS - on Tuesday to state their support for the premier to stay on until the next general election.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir confirmed that the meeting took place, and thanked those who wanted him to stay on but reiterated that he would step down when the time comes.

In Kuching, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said GPS representatives attended the meeting at the invitation of the Prime Minister and other parties.

"What happened was that there was an invitation by the Prime Minister and also the other component parties. They just wanted to have a chit-chat, that's all, " he told reporters after attending Kuching’s City Day celebration yesterday.

Abang Johari, who is GPS chairman, was non-committal when asked if the politicians pledged their support for Dr Mahathir to serve the full term.

"I don't know because I was not there.

"I knew about the meeting but I do not know what transpired, " he said.

Asked if this meeting could be misconstrued as GPS getting involved in the prime minister's post, Abang Johari said this was not the case.

"We just listened. People invited us to the meeting, and we just attended it, " he said.

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, when contacted, said he would not comment about the meeting.