PAS fuels coup narrative by challenging DAP to back Dr M for full term

PAS has continued to fuel the narrative that there is a coup attempt against the prime minister, this time by raising doubts about DAP's loyalty if the party does not support Dr Mahathir Mohamad to stay on for a full term.

This is despite a Pakatan Harapan presidential council decision that Mahathir must hand power to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim mid-term. Mahathir had acknowledged the need for him to honour the agreement.

"If it is true that (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng and the DAP support Mahathir's leadership, the challenge for DAP and Lim is - will they support Mahathir to become prime minister until the 15th general election?

"Does Lim and the DAP dare to take up this challenge? If they do not, then it is true about what will happen (coup against Mahathir)," PAS Youth chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi said in a comment piece published on the Islamist party's organ Harakahdaily.

Khalil said this in justifying PAS' private pledge to back Mahathir, which became public after Mahathir claimed PAS leaders had promised not to support Umno in the Semenyih by-election.

PAS later clarified that the agreement was "misinterpreted" and that it was a support for the prime minister in the interest of "religion, country and race".

Khalil also took aim at Lim who said PAS' claim was a "lie" and demanded proof.

"Why don't Lim personally ask Mahathir the reason and need for a document of support (for Mahathir) by PAS?

"Lim does not dare to ask Mahathir as it will only reveal Harapan's own troubles," he said.

Lim had demanded proof from PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan (photo) about the alleged internal coup plot against Mahathir.

Takiyuddin had confirmed Mahathir's claim about a written agreement of support, but claimed it was only a "sample".

Khalil also listed several observations which he claimed were evidence of coup efforts against Mahathir.

"A clear example is today, when PKR had declared that the Rantau seat belongs to PKR even before the Pakatan Harapan presidential meeting, but when Bersatu wants to expand to Sabah, it is told to bring the matter to the Harapan presidential council," he said.

Contrary to Khalil's claim, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today said the Rantau state seat is PKR's traditional seat, but there is no guarantee the party can contest again as the matter must be decided by the Harapan presidential council.

“Usually we will decide (the seat allocation) at the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council and it has to follow a procedure.

“It has been a tradition (PKR holding the seat), but a tradition is not a law,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.

Khalil further claimed there was insubordination against Mahathir in Harapan and also alleged that PKR was working behind the scenes to take the Kedah menteri besar position from PKR.

Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul, who is Gurun assemblyperson, had in August last year suggested that he could become Kedah menteri besar if Anwar became prime minister.

"Harapan looks nice on the outside, but the reality is there are cracks inside and it is waiting to unravel," said Khalil.