KOTA KINABALU – Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal tonight confirmed that there is a “gentlemen’s agreement” between him and the heads of other opposition parties.
According to him, the basis of the agreement depends on whether he or PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, have the majority backing among 105 MPs.
According to the agreement, the leader among them who is able to bring additional MPs into the fold and thereby gain a majority would be made the prime ministerial candidate, he said.
“I met with Anwar during our meeting with the Agong (today) and we had a small discussion over the matter,” said Shafie, who is also Semporna MP.
“We have decided between our parties. If Anwar has the numbers, we will support him. But if the numbers are with me, it is the same. They agreed.
“DAP’s Lim Guan Eng, Amanah’s Mat Sabu (Mohamad Sabu) were there, and Pejuang’s Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is also aware of this agreement.
“This means Anwar needs to bring the MPs. If he can’t and I am able to bring in the MPs, then they have to make way for me to be prime minister.
“I will do the same for Anwar if he has the numbers,” he told Astro Awani in an interview tonight.
The opposition bloc needs only seven MPs to gain a simple majority. The Vibes had earlier reported of the existence of a gentlemen’s agreement between Warisan and PH.
Shafie said he will support Anwar as prime minister should the latter be able to bring in the additional MPs or more, but the same opportunity should be offered to him if he is able to do it.
The Semporna MP also dismissed talks he has been offered top federal posts, such as deputy prime minister or finance minister.
“This is not true,” he said, adding that this is part of the approach done by his fellow opposition MPs as Warisan is seen as no longer aligned with them.
Shafie added the agreement would test the unity of the opposition parties, which, in reality, already acquired the people's mandate in the 14th general election.
He said the federal post offer would be secondary as the main issue at hand is to have a stable government and address current problems, including the Covid-19 pandemic and ailing economy.
Speaking of his meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong earlier, Shafie said he had conveyed to the king that all party leaders must respect the rule of law.
He said the country would not be able to rise from its current challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and troubled economy, if leaders no longer respected the rule of law. – The Vibes, August 17, 2021
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