PETALING JAYA: DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has ruled out Warisan president Shafie Apdal as a contender for the prime minister’s post after the general election (GE15).
Stating that Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim was the “best and most suitable” candidate for the job, Lim also said Barisan Nasional chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang were also possible candidates.
“Although Warisan will be fielding candidates in the peninsula, its president Shafie Apdal is not a candidate for the 10th prime minister of Malaysia,” said Lim in a statement.
“I do not question Warisan’s right to field candidates in Peninsular Malaysia, although their candidates will be fighting to save or lose their deposits.”
The DAP stalwart urged Sabahan voters to understand that GE15 was a parliamentary election to choose the nation’s 10th prime minister, not to select the Sabah chief minister or state government.
Warisan plans to contest in states such as Penang, Perlis, Kedah, Selangor, Johor, Perak, and Kelantan in GE15 – with a former MCA president among their candidates.
Shafie, a former Sabah chief minister, previously said if he had been the opposition’s choice, instead of Anwar, for prime minister after the PH government fell in 2020, he would have garnered more votes from MPs.
Shafie, who has helmed various federal ministries since 1999, last year said he would be willing to be prime minister if given the mandate.
“Given the chance, if the people of the country want it … I am up for it,” he said when answering questions during a Facebook Live session.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had then also thrown his support behind Shafie as the opposition’s prime minister-designate in the event of snap elections.
