Anwar expects to succeed Mahathir as Malaysian prime minister by 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Anwar Ibrahim said he expects to take over as Malaysian prime minister in the middle of next year, Bloomberg Television reported on Wednesday (Sep 18).

In an interview with the business news channel, Mr Anwar was pressed on whether May 2020 is the date of the power transition.

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“Theres an understanding that it should be around that time, but I dont think I should be too petty about the exact month,” Mr Anwar said.

“But there is this understanding that he will resign and that I should assume it,” he added, referring to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

READ: No two-year timeline for Malaysian PM succession plan: Mukhriz Mahathir

The deadline of May 2020 is line with PKRs stance that Mr Anwar would assume the highest post in the government two years after the 2018 general election, based on an agreement among component parties in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.

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When Dr Mahathir led PH to unseat the Barisan Nasional in the election last May, Mr Anwar was serving a five-year jail term for sodomy, a charge he has said was politically motivated.

Days after the shock victory, Mr Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was granted a royal pardon from the Malaysian king and returned to the political arena.

Dr Mahathir, who called himself the “interim prime minister”, has reiterated that he would pass the baton to Mr Anwar as agreed, although he has appeared to be non-committal over the deadline of the handover.

READ: Transition of power to Malaysian prime minister is 'quite settled': Anwar Ibrahim

READ: Im not going against my promise: PM Mahathir on handover to Anwar

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