Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today reaffirmed that he will keep his promise on his tenure as the country’s Prime Minister as agreed by Pakatan Harapan (PH).
I wishes to note, that when Mahathir said he would not stay on “a full term,” the focus should be on the actual meaning of “a full term” and not what one believes a full term means.
For the record, a full term in Malaysia refers to a five-year period beginning the day parliament first convenes following a general election.
That is to say, if Mahathir or whoever may replace him as Prime Minister does not call for the dissolution of parliament by or before the 17th of July 2023, the 14th Malaysian parliament automatically gets dissolved.
However, if Mahathir chooses to call for the dissolution of parliament in 2020 or 2021, he would technically have fulfilled his promise to relinquish his post “before the full term is up.”
See the game, or do you want me to spell it out?
PETALING JAYA: According to a report by the New Straits Times Online, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today reaffirmed that he will keep his promise on his tenure as the country’s Prime Minister as agreed by Pakatan Harapan (PH).
However, the exact constitution of the said agreement is as yet hazy, as Mahathir himself has gone from his tenure being two years to three years to “I’ll leave when I’m ready.”
As a matter of fact, not only did Dato’ Seri Mukhriz Mahathir recently rubbish Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claim that the agreement was signed, a Mahathir loyalist went so far as to say that the next in line was Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali, not Anwar.
Notwithstanding, there seem to be minor contradictions in reports surfacing online, with some saying that Mahathir made it clear he wouldn’t stay on “a full term,” while others insist he meant he wouldn’t go beyond two years.
Present at the press conference where the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment were Home Minister and Bersatu President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Kedah Mentri Besar and party deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir.
The NST report added:
Dr Mahathir, who is also Bersatu chairman, was asked on the view of a political pundit who had said that allowing the Langkawi member of Parliament to continue serving as prime minister beyond the two year period which was agreed upon and until the next general election was akin to torturing the 94-year-old veteran leader.
Speaking at a forum recently on a book he penned titled “Anwar PM ke-8”, Shahbudin Husin had said the promised two-year time frame for handing over power to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was ideal.
“Whatever someone else wants to say, it is their own opinion and not mine,” Dr Mahathir added.
I wishes to note, that when Mahathir said he would not stay on “a full term,” the focus should be on the actual meaning of “a full term” and not what one believes a full term means.
For the record, a full term in Malaysia refers to a five-year period beginning the day parliament first convenes following a general election.
That is to say, if Mahathir or whoever may replace him as Prime Minister does not call for the dissolution of parliament by or before the 17th of July 2023, the 14th Malaysian parliament automatically gets dissolved.
However, if Mahathir chooses to call for the dissolution of parliament in 2020 or 2021, he would technically have fulfilled his promise to relinquish his post “before the full term is up.”
See the game, or do you want me to spell it out for you?
Seriously, why do you think Anwar refuses to furnish details of the actual agreement in public?
RJ RITHAUDEEN
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