KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has endorsed Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal as Pakatan Harapan Plus' prime ministerial candidate.
"I believe, if this comes true, it will strengthen the relationship between the peninsular and Sabah and Sarawak," he said in a video posted on his social media account today.
His announcement came amid infighting within the pact over its prime ministerial candidate. PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had insisted that he be the candidate and Dr Mahathir, too, offered himself for the nation's chief executive post.
Dr Mahathir's endorsement for Shafie would mean that he is no longer in the running to be the next prime minister.
He said the decision to choose Shafie was made at an informal meeting on June 25 (Thursday) at Rumah Tetamu Sabah here.
Aside from himself, the meeting was attended by Shafie who is also Parti Warisan Sabah president, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke, DAP national vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran and DAP strategist Liew Chin Tong as well as disputed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya.
"In the meeting, I was open to any suggestion, including not nominating myself as the next prime minister.
"Among the suggestions proposed was for Shafie to be the prime minister. We agreed on Shafie's nomination unanimously.
"I fully support this proposal. What is important is for us to have a firm stand so that the public knows about our position," he said.
Dr Mahathir said that Anwar was nominated to be the Deputy Prime Minister 1 while Mukhriz will be made Deputy Prime Minister 2.
On the reasons why Shafie was nominated, the Langkawi Member of Parliament explained that it was due to the former's struggles since 2015 when he was booted out of the then Barisan Nasional cabinet, led by former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"Perhaps many have forgotten that Shafie was one of the original leaders who spoke against the kleptocratic government before the 14th General Election.
"He was one of the leaders who became a victim of the Najib-led government. He was sacked from his ministerial post and as Umno vice-president because he could not accept the practice of accepting bribery and the stealing of the people's money through the 1MDB scandal that is revolting.
"Shafie used to be with (Prime Minister Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin). But Muhyiddin has now left the struggle and gone back to his kleptocratic friends who punished and dismissed him," he said.
In late February this year, several lawmakers, including Muhyiddin left PH, causing the downfall of the federal government which then led to a week of political turmoil in the country amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
After a week-long political crisis, Muhyiddin was appointed as prime minister on March 1.
Since then, Dr Mahathir had been critical of the loose Perikatan Nasional government.
Last month, the 94-year-old submitted a motion vote of no confidence against Muhyiddin.
On the motion, Dr Mahathir said he will proceed with the tabling in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat session next month. The lower house of Parliament is scheduled to begin its 25-day second meeting, with the sitting beginning July 13 onwards.
"The parliament will convene soon. I will bring up the motion of no confidence against the Muhyiddin-led government.
"God willing, with the support of MPs who can't accept Muhyiddin's back-door government and want to return the people's mandate, will be together with me and friends to support the motion for Shafie to be the prime minister.
"If this effort is successful, steps to ensure the democratic principles as aspired by the people could be fulfilled. We must end this government that was not chosen by the people," he said.