KOTA KINABALU – Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal remains upbeat on his chances, despite standing down from the race to become prime minister.
Speaking in a live forum tonight, the former Sabah chief minister said any candidate picked by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong would still have to undergo a legitimacy test in the Dewan Rakyat.
In giving way to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Shafie said the opposition leader would still need to secure majority support in Parliament, failing which, Shafie said he will again offer himself as the alternative choice.
“Already, it has already been decided (to support Anwar as prime minister), while mine (offer to be prime minister) is already a gone case.
“But after the secret ballots (collection of SDs), there is still the confidence vote. I did discuss with the opposition leaders, if you (Anwar) fail in Parliament, give me the chance to do try.
“I don’t mind offering myself as a candidate again,” he said in a live forum organised by the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Malaysia tonight.
He was responding to a question over his chances of becoming Malaysia’s ninth prime minister.
In making way for Anwar to be the sole prime ministerial candidate from the opposition fold, he said the opposition must stand as a united bloc.
He also recalled that Anwar had, last year, ahead of the Sabah election, indicated that he had a “strong, formidable, convincing” majority.
“Although we were unable to verify it at the time, we have to forget about that because that is already a gone case.
“So, let’s give a chance to Anwar (first),” he said.
He also noted that he had a gentlemen’s agreement between himself and Anwar that whoever manages to bring in the requisite number of additional MPs into the fold would be given the chance to be prime minister.
Shafie also said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Amanah president Mat Sabu and Pejuang chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and a few others are aware of the understanding.
The basis of the agreement is that the opposition bloc would remain at 105 MPs.
Warisan has eight MPs, and are presently in cooperation with few other parties, such as Muda, Pejuang, Upko and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) , which makes up 17 MPs from the 105.
Shafie also said that he had earlier secured support from GPS MPs in Sarawak.
He said they were willing to work with him as they also wanted someone from East Malaysia to be prime minister for the first time.
He said Sabah and Sarawak leaders share a common goal in fulfilling terms contained in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“I had met them in Parliament and sat with them. I also checked with them (on whether) they were willing to work with me.
“They think this is a chance for us (from East Malaysia) to administer the country,” said Shafie, adding that he is able to gather around 20 to 30 MPs to support him at that time.
At present, however, it is learnt that the opposition bloc are facing difficulties obtaining support beyond the 105 MPs.
“Now, I don’t know. I was able to bring them to support us at that time. I believe they knew me when I was a federal minister; I was always in Sarawak, helping them. Anyway, this is also a gone case for now.
“I am no longer saying that I am the candidate, but at the end of the day, we are still divided as a bloc.
“I’m not driven by all of these (power and ambition). So, I have laid all my cards and forwarded my statutory declaration (supporting Anwar),” he said.
Shafie also said that, perhaps, it is also time for Malaysia to have a prime minister from East Malaysia.
As an East Malaysian, he added that he would be able to showcase East Malaysian culture and remind all Malaysians about living in harmony and unity. – The Vibes, August 18, 2021
