GEORGE TOWN: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is one step closer to making his son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, the prime minister, a law professor said.
Responding to Pakatan Harapan’s decision in naming Dr Mahathir as its interim prime minister pick should it emerge victorious in the election, Professor Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Sidek said Mukhriz stood to benefit from the move.
“Once Dr Mahathir gets it (the prime minister’s post), he will step down and make way for his own son.
“Obviously, Dr Mahathir is buying time to sneak in his own son as the prime minister when the immediate opportunity appears,” he told the New Straits Times when contacted today.
PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was announced as Pakatan Harapan’s choice for deputy prime minister at the pact’s annual convention on Sunday.
The pact had also announced that if it won the 14th General Election, it would commence legal processes to obtain a royal pardon for jailed Pakatan Harapan de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is scheduled to be released on June 8.
The move would allow Anwar to immediately play a role in the federal government and subsequently be proposed as a candidate for the eighth prime minister.
Abdul Halim, however, said he believed that such a plan would not be carried out.
“Anwar, I believe, upon discharge from prison, will resume his position as the head of PKR.
“In fact, don’t be dazzled if he pulls PKR out from Pakatan Harapan (if he feels they are being played by Dr Mahathir),” he added.
Abdul Halim said the latest developments in Pakatan Harapan were not surprising.
“They comprise of various backgrounds and interests, with only one thing in mind, that is power. Everyone is in a dire mood to have their hands on power, thus, integrity and sincerity are only secondary.
“As such, the so-called alliance is a group of disgruntled former Umno members, those who have been sacked or removed by their own former parties.”
Abdul Halim also said the infighting and bickering within Pakatan Harapan would intensify as the election drew closer. The pact, he said, might disband before the election race began.
“It already started yesterday when a group of diehard Anwar supporters began chanting 'Reformasi' outside the convention hall,” he added.