PETALING JAYA: A prime minister must command the support of the majority in Parliament, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir said one who does not have the support of the majority in parliament would fall even if he was the leader of the party holding the highest number of seats in the House.

“The Members of Parliament hold the power to decide. If I don’t have the support of the majority, I can’t be the prime minister, ” he said in an exclusive interview with the Malaya Post on Saturday (Feb 8) night.

He said this when asked to comment on leadership transition issues, as certain blocs in Parliament - including PAS - have openly expressed their view that Dr Mahathir should serve one full term instead of handing over power to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“We will hold to our promise. But if we place a candidate, the majority (in Parliament) must support (the candidate). If not, (the chosen candidate) can fall, ” he said.

The issue of leadership transition had taken centre stage in recent months although there is no written agreement for Dr Mahathir to hand over the premiership to Anwar after serving half a term.

Dr Mahathir then said that politicians should take issues faced by the rakyat seriously.

“If they (politicians) are only interested in positions and do not care about the rakyat’s problems, they won’t last. If we fail to resolve the woes faced by the majority, the rakyat will reject us (in the next General Election), ” he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/08/dr-m-prime-minister-must-command-majority-of-support-in-parliament