BY: PRAKASH KRISHNAN

It looks like initially, after Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as PM, the vacancy of Prime Minister was Ismail Sabri’s for the asking. But as soon as Muhyiddin resigned Anwar Ibrahim, Shafie Apdal, Mahathir Mohammad, Tengku Razaleigh and Hadi Awang emerged as contenders.

These were the hopefuls that swirled around the list of His Majesty the YDPA at Istana Negara with what looked like a safe passage to Ismail Sabri to be PM. But not anymore as all the challengers are dangling their credentials to be PM.

In such a short space of time Ismail Sabri’s star faded as Netizens began to stage petitions for change as they felt that if he (Sabri) became the PM, it will only perpetuate the same ‘Kerajaaan Gagal’ (failed government) mentality as the Muhyiddin regime.

With Ismail Sabri fading, the toss up for PM seems to be between Anwar Ibrahim and East Malaysia’s folkhero Shafie Apdal, with the nearly century-old Mahathir Mohammmad also fading along with Ku Li (Tengku Razaleigh) and Hadi Awang.

This means the choice of PM candidate zeos in on two names making the shortlist – Anwar and Shafie – both of whom have impressive credentials and have bolstered their chances to get the job, especially Shafie.

While there exists a ‘Gentleman’s Agreement’ for either Anwar or Shafie to make way for each other should one of them fail to garner support there is really no need in principle to have such an agreement.

It looks like if Anwar was any inch a gentleman and sincere he will know that his chances of getting approved by the Council of Malay Rulers is nearly nil and this is why he should pave the way for Shafie to become Malaysia’s first PM from Sabah, East Malaysia.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher