Dr M reiterates: It’s Anwar and not Azmin next

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) has reaffirmed that his successor will be PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and not Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Despite requests from certain quarters asking him to stay on until the next general election, Dr Mahathir said he is committed to stepping down before that.

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald in Bangkok, when asked if he would definitely pass the baton to Anwar instead of Azmin, Dr Mahathir replied, “Yes I will”.

“Although there are lots of other people who have been asking me to carry on until the next election – but that is their view.

“My commitment is to step down before the next election, certainly, ” he said.

However, Dr Mahathir declined to give a specific timeframe for the agreed power transition, which has been a bone of contention.

“I cannot say whether it is two years or three years, but I will certainly step down as I promised, ” said Dr Mahathir, who is in Bangkok for the 35th Asean Summit.

There have been calls from within Pakatan Harapan as well as the Opposition for Dr Mahathir to stay as Prime Minister until the end of the incumbent government’s mandate.

However, there is an agreed succession plan whereby Dr Mahathir is supposed to hand over the mantle to Anwar, who said that there is a written agreement on the power transition.