The plan to form a unity government without three parties in Pakatan Harapan was hatched some time ago, asserted PKR vice-president Xavier Jayakumar.

"Looking back during the past few days, it is now quite clear there was a plan to form a 'unity' government without Harapan.

"On Feb 21, the Harapan presidential council meeting agreed to give Dr Mahathir Mohamad the freedom to determine when he steps down as prime minister. This was to save Harapan as the government chosen by the people," he said in a statement today.

Xavier then pointed to the failed coup attempt where former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang wanted to form the Pakatan Nasional coalition.

Xavier said Mahathir did nothing to stop the political plot, and he merely holed up in his residence.

He said the Bersatu meeting chaired by Mahathir on Feb 21 decided for Bersatu to remain in Harapan but that was reneged by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin who joined the opposition leaders and Azmin at the Sheraton Hotel.

Bersatu then quit Harapan after failing in its coup attempt, Xavier said.

"When Mahathir was confronted by Harapan leaders, he broke down and reiterated that he was not involved and would resign.

"This was the body blow to the Harapan government, but Harapan then rallied around him to show solidarity," he said.

Mahathir then came out with different ideas of forming a unity government and clearly opted to sideline Harapan leaders, he said.

Harapan decided to support Anwar as the eighth prime minister after Mahathir declined to chair the coalition's meeting on Feb 25.

"We at Harapan have had enough of the endless dirty politicking and shady manoeuvring," he said.

"The question is why can’t Mahathir now hand over power to Anwar and retire peacefully? Why did he supposedly pre-empt the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong over a special parliament sitting announcement ?" questioned Xavier.

He said Bersatu is in a disarray and if this saga leads to an election, it may suffer losses.

"I am sure the party could possibly face a wipeout or suffer heavy losses for that matter," he cautions.

"All he had to do was to sack five cabinet members, reappoint and move on. Why did he allow the collapse of a legitimately elected government and now says that he wants to save the country ? " he said.

"Our choice is for Mahathir to hand over the power to us and we will be judged by the people in the next elections.

"What is so difficult for Mahathir to do this? I hope and pray Yang Di-Pertuan Agong will make a decision which we all will abide," Xavier said.