KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 26): The Pakatan Harapan coalition parties — PKR, DAP and Amanah — are backing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a candidate for Prime Minister.

The decision was made at the coalition’s presidential council meeting last night, said Anwar at a press conference today.

"Since the attempt to overthrow the Pakatan Harapan Government over the weekend, we have been working hard to uphold the mandate of Malaysians [entrusted to us] on May 9, 2018.

"The Pakatan Harapan presidential council had invited Tun Dr Mahathir to chair the meeting to restore the Pakatan Harapan Government, but Tun declined to attend the meeting on Tuesday, Feb 25.

"As such, the presidential council yesterday decided that Pakatan Harapan's prime ministerial candidate is Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim," he said while reading out a statement.

When asked if he had enough numbers to support him in order to form the government, he said that is the prerogative of the Agong and asked to respect the due process according to the Constitution.

Pakatan Harapan currently has 92 seats in Parliament — DAP has 42, while PKR has 39 and Amanah has 11.

Anwar added that the coalition, which was established following the Muafakat Pakatan Harapan on January 7, 2018, is committed to fulfil its manifesto and upholding its role as the government.   

“Pakatan Harapan remains committed to the aspirations and mandate from the people to steer this country to a better direction economically, politically and socially. We will not betray this trust,” he said.