Alliance of Hope's Prime Minister To Swear-In Thursday

PETALING JAYA (Selangor, Malaysia), May 10 (Bernama) -- Dr Mahathir Mohamad (centre in the picture) said the Pakatan Harapan's Prime Minister will swear-in at the Istana Negara (National Palace) Thursday, following their victory in the 14th General Election (GE14) Wednesday. In a packed press conference at about 3 am here, Dr Mahathir who is also Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) chairman, however, did not elaborate the time of swearing-in ceremony. Dr Mahathir said following the swearing-in ceremony, he will discuss with all the four presidents of Pakatan Harapan component parties on the new cabinet line-up. He also announced Thursday and Friday as public holidays as promised by Pakatan Harapan before the GE14. "I have instructed the Chief Secretary to the Government to announce that Thursday and the day after as public holidays," said Dr Mahathir followed by cheers from the crowd. Dr Mahathir said Istana Negara had contacted Pakatan Harapan on the news that the pact had obtained the majority seats of the 222 parliamentary constituencies contested in the GE14 as until now the Election Commission had yet to make the official announcement on the matter. "The palace has requested the leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR or People's Justice Party) Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who happened to be Pakatan Harapan's designated deputy prime minister to meet Malaysia's King Sultan Muhammad V," he added. Meanwhile, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution when contacted by Bernama confirmed that Dr Wan Azizah had been granted an audience with the King at about 3 am Thursday. Asked on the former Prime Minister who is also Barisan Nasional (BN or National Front) chairman Najib Razak, Dr Mahathir replied he (Najib) had gone silent. To another question if there would be any action taken against Najib, Dr Mahathir replied:"We (Pakatan Harapan) are not seeking revenge. We just want to restore the rule of law, " he added. On PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim's position who will be released next month, Dr Mahathir said, Pakatan Harapan will work on Anwar's pardon to allow him to contest in an election as a step for him to become the prime minister. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA