By BERNAMA / Pic By HUSSEIN SHAHARUDDIN

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday repeated the party’s pledge of undivided support for Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in leading the federal government.

Anwar said he conveyed the support to Dr Mahathir when the latter came to visit him at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital on Saturday evening.

“I have also relayed the uneasiness among the (PKR) leaders who requested for a more comprehensive negotiations (on Cabinet appointments).

“The view is well received by Dr Mahathir, but the final decision must be made by consensus in the Pakatan Harapan presidential council,” he said in a statement posted on PKR’s Facebook page yesterday.

Anwar said he also conveyed his views to the PKR leadership to ensure that the Pakatan Harapan government under the leadership of Dr Mahathir and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as deputy prime minister, would be steadfast, strong and able to discharge its responsibilities excellently.

“I urge my fellow comrades who have received the mandate from the people to start working immediately to save and rebuild our country,” he said.

On Saturday, Dr Mahathir named three key Cabinet members namely, Lim Guan Eng as finance minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (home minister) and Mohamad Sabu (defence minister), in the newly- formed federal government following Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the 14th General Election on May 9.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said the appointment of three senior Cabinet ministers was made without sidelining any party in Pakatan Harapan.

He said apart from the Pakatan Harapan presidential council, decisions were also made through the “Top Five Leaders” committee chaired by himself, and comprising the four Pakatan Harapan component party presidents.

He said this is because it is difficult for the presidential council to meet regularly or immediately to decide on something.

“This is the way we do it when setting up a certain body or when naming the core ministers.

“All five (in the committee) know what’s decided, and it’s their responsibility if they have to report it to their respective parties. Otherwise, we will confirm these decisions in the presidential council. The presidential council is considered the highest council,” he said during a special briefing session to RTM and Bernama at his residence in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

On Saturday, PKR VP Mohd Rafizi Ramli claimed that the appointments of top leaders from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, Amanah and DAP as Cabinet ministers were made without negotiation with PKR.

In the meant ime, Dr Mahathir said decisions would be made on the principle of “the majority rules”, because it would not always be possible to reach a consensus.

“So with the ‘the majority rules’ (principle), it would make decision-making better, more efficient and faster. That has been the arrangement in Pakatan Harapan until now,” he said.

He also said the government requires a Cabinet to be set up as soon as possible.

“To set up a full Cabinet will take time, because each party needs to discuss among themselves to put forward the names and posts they wish to hold,” he added.