THE STAR
Thursday, 29 Aug 2019
8:50 PM MYT
By JOSEPH KAOS Jr
PUTRAJAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia members should exercise discipline and be cautious when making statements that could damage the party's reputation, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
While not naming any particular individual, the Bersatu chairman said the party was considering taking action against a party leader who made remarks that were deemed to be damaging.
"There needs to be discipline in the party, particularly among members of the presidential council and the supreme council.
"Those who hold positions in the party need to be careful when making statements.
"If they say things that damage the party's image, we will take action against them.
"This is following a statement made by someone that Pakatan Harapan would lose in the next election," said Dr Mahathir at a press conference after chairing a Bersatu meeting here on Thursday (Aug 29).
Dr Mahathir said the matter would be forwarded to the party's disciplinary committee, who will then propose the next step of action to the supreme council.
Recently, Bersatu's Datuk Rais Hussein Mohamed Ariff had said at a forum that Pakatan would lose if a general election was held the next day.
Rais is often referred to as the party's "chief strategist", but Dr Mahathir has come out to deny that such a post exists.
"We have never had a chief strategist.
"I have no idea who appointed who here. That is a self-proclaimed title," said Dr Mahathir.
Asked if the party discourage freedom of speech, Dr Mahathir said,"no".
"Members are free to say what they want, but they cannot go and say the party will lose. That is damaging our image," he said.
He also announced that the party's annual general meeting as well as party elections would be held on June 20 next year.
He added that Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar Syed Jaafar had been appointed the party's election committee chairman.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/29/dr-m-we039ll-take-action-against-bersatu-members-who-make-damaging-statements#lf7VbgFde1XIohRI.99
‘No room’ for Anwar in my Cabinet for now, says PM
Vinodh Pillai
-August 29, 2019 9:10 PM
FMTAnwar Ibrahim (left) is supposed to succeed Dr Mahathir Mohamad under an arrangement in Pakatan Harapan.
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said tonight there is “no room” for PKR president Anwar Ibrahim in his Cabinet at present.
“We are not having any change or any increase in the number of members of the Cabinet,” the PPBM chairman told reporters after chairing a party Supreme Council meeting at the Perdana Leadership Foundation.
“Since nobody has indicated they want to resign, we have no vacancy,” he added.
“If we have a vacancy, we will consider suitable candidates.”
Anwar is supposed to succeed Mahathir under an arrangement in Pakatan Harapan.
In May, Mahathir assured that while he would hand over the reins to Anwar as promised, no time frame had been given for the transfer of power.
Mahathir was asked if the time was ripe for Anwar to join his Cabinet, amid talk of a reshuffling of portfolios and calls to hasten the succession plan for Anwar to replace him.
Mahathir had recently quashed rumours that there would be a Cabinet reshuffle after a report claimed he had informed ministers at their weekly Cabinet meeting that there would be a reshuffle of portfolios.
Mahathir, at the time, said he had mentioned to his Cabinet members that there might be slight changes in terms of the portfolios.
“But there is none yet. When I decide to do so, I will inform you,” he had said, adding he could not reveal which portfolios he wanted to “adjust” but would do so at a later time “if there is a necessity”.
Mahathir, meanwhile, warned of a split in the Pakatan Harapan coalition, brought about by PH members themselves.
“It looks like there is dissatisfaction with the present government. They are thinking about changes. But this is a very bad move because if you do anything, your whole party will split up,” he warned.
Mahathir also said he was in the dark about the appointment of Jalil Rasheed as the new CEO of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB).
He said PNB group chairman Zeti Akhtar Aziz would have informed him about this.
Jalil is currently the CEO of the South Asian operations for Invesco Ltd, a leading global investment firm, according to news reports.
His appointment as PNB CEO is effective from Oct 1 this year.
