PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has urged all political parties to throw their support behind Dr Mahathir Mohamad to serve out his prime ministership for a full term.

He said this was important to restore the private sector’s confidence in the country’s political stability.

“I urge all political parties to make it their main and correct priority to help the prime minister administer the country up until when Parliament is dissolved or the last term, without being distracted by other issues.

“[...] PAS and Umno, especially, are ready to be a constructive opposition in order to develop the country together,” he said in a statement today.

According to the Kubang Kerian MP, internal strife within the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition - especially within PKR - had dominated the country’s politics and contributed to destabilising Malaysia.

Tuan Ibrahim further cautioned that continued infighting within the coalition would stunt the country’s agenda of becoming a developed nation by 2030.

“Should the issue of the power tussle within Pakatan Harapan continue, it will sabotage the common prosperity agenda that was the initiative of the prime minister.

“Lately, the country has not been stable when the internal problems of the biggest Harapan component parties have become the dominating political subject in Malaysia. What’s more, there are rumours the Selangor menteri besar will be changed soon,” he said.

He said after a year of “failing” to administer the country, supporting the agenda of the prime minister was Harapan’s “best shot” at proving the coalition is able to maintain the trust accorded by the people.

PAS and Umno have been vocal of late about their support for Mahathir to serve a five-year term as premier in full.

This has come amidst constant speculation that Mahathir may renege on his promise, prior to taking office, that he would hand over the top post to his former political rival, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir initially stated this would be done within two years of taking office, but later revised this to three years.

The premier today reiterated his promise of handing over the reins before the end of his term, saying he would only stay on if there was a “gun to his head”.

This came despite support from some within Harapan for him to serve out his term, including Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The latter had welcomed PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s call for Mahathir to stay on as Bersatu was the only party within Harapan with "characteristics of Islamic leadership”.