However, the merriment came with a subtle warning from the opposition bloc to abide by a reform agenda, or be ready to get kicked out.
Frequently repeated statements about Anwar Ibrahim being the first and only choice as candidate for prime minister, no matter what, raises the question whether it was a hint to Mahathir that no one from PPBM would have a running chance.
Such endorsements, on the line of “Anwar Ibrahim is the best person to lead the country”, followed Mahathir’s rejection of a proposal from Parti Amanah Negara for Pakatan to name another as PM-designate while Anwar is still serving time behind bars. Mahathir’s reasoning is that choosing an interim candidate would only result in a split among Pakatan members.
The issue of who would be the opposition choice of prime minister has been a hot topic since Mahathir and former Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin left Umno to go into the opposition.
Early on, Mahathir named Muhyiddin as his choice, but has since softened his stance by saying that the next head of government must be chosen by consensus.
And as Mahathir’s mission to oust prime minister Najib Razak continues to drag on, he may let Pakatan have their wish.
The point was visible yesterday when Mahathir was spotted at the convention with a “Free Anwar” badge pinned on his shirt. The man once accused of being the reason Anwar was sent to jail in 1998 also publicly declared his support for the “Reformasi” movement which arose in the belief that Anwar was a victim of political persecution.
With these moves, it appears that Pakatan is on the verge of gaining a new member. One vital component is still missing, namely PAS.
Mahathir poured cold water on any hope of getting PAS into the pact by suggesting that the Islamic party had taken dedak (a euphemism often used for bribes), and was now secretly supporting Najib’s “corrupt” administration.
However Muhyiddin stated his intention to continue pursuing PAS, revealing that PPBM and PAS may soon sign a memorandum of understanding, but PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, speaking to reporters later, said that his party would continue to talk to PAS, but warned the rest “not to push beyond that”.
Mahathir’s remarks may dampen efforts within Pakatan, especially by PKR, to get PAS to set aside its differences with DAP for the bigger goal of attaining power in Putrajaya through straight fights against the Barisan Nasional in the general election.