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Petaling Jaya: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be sworn in as Malaysia’s seventh Prime Minister today (Thursday) at Istana Negara.
Dr Mahathir said the palace had contacted him after it was made known that Pakatan Harapan (PH) had achieved the majority in the 14th General Election although the Election Commission (EC) had yet to make the official announcement.
Dr Mahathir, who is the chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), said the opposition was informed by the EC that it can form the government after achieving 112 seats. According to him, this was achieved based on its own unofficial vote tally.
“We reached the majority and today, (I) will swear in at the palace and PKR will appoint Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the deputy prime minister,” he said at a PH press conference here.
Mahathir Mohamad, former Malaysian prime minister and opposition candidate for Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) reacts during a news conference after general election, in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, May 9, 2018. REUTERS
Wan Azizah attended the press conference together with PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) president Mohamad Sabu and DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang.
Elaborating on what kind of cabinet PH will have, Dr Mahathir said it will comprise men, women and the youth.
“We have women, men and youth. At the moment, we have only decided on who will be the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister after this (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim).
“We will seek to secure the royal pardon for Anwar after he is released from jail on June 8 and then he can become the Prime Minister.
“But according to the legal process before becoming a Prime Minister, he (Anwar) will have to first contest in an election to become a member of Parliament,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said he has yet to be contacted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Barisan Nasional’s defeat in the GE14.
"Najib’s gone ... we will not seek revenge but we will restore the laws of the country,” he said.
