MOHAMED Azmin Ali’s call for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to serve a full term as prime minister is a personal opinion, said Anwar Ibrahim, adding that the decision can be made only by the Pakatan Harapan presidential council.

The PKR president said his deputy’s comment on a “back-door government”, too, is merely a personal view.

“It was a personal statement. I have reviewed (the matter) and decided that under a democratic parliamentary system, it is the ruling party that makes the decisions. This means, I will leave it to the PH (presidential) council,” Anwar told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Azmin, who is also economic affairs minister, yesterday said Dr Mahathir should be allowed to serve his term in full.

He said quarters accusing him of working on setting up a new government are the masterminds seeking to form an administration through the back door.

Asked if Azmin brought up the issue during the coffee session they had last week, Anwar said: “Nope.”

Azmin has been named as among those collaborating with Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein to form a government that excludes PH parties DAP and Amanah.

Yesterday, he said the consensus in PH is for Anwar to take over the reins from Dr Mahathir, but there is no timeline.

“What has been decided by PH is only in spirit, an understanding without any fixed time frame.

“I challenge any individual to tell the public that the agreement is for a near-term transition. There is none.

“Why is this matter being played up?” – October 23, 2019.