PETALING JAYA: Otai Reformasi is now pressuring Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to set a clear time frame to hand over the premiership to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is expected to succeed as the country's eight prime minister by May next year.

Otai Reformasi, chaired by Ijok assemblyman Dr Idris Ahmad, is a veterans' group known to be fiercely loyal to Anwar.

Dr Idris said the lack of clarity on the plan to hand over the reins to Anwar has caused distrust among Pakatan Harapan leaders in Dr Mahathir's sincerity in stepping down.

"Dr Mahathir should set a date on when he plans to hand over the prime minister position to Anwar.

"The uncertainty of this power transition has also become polemic among the people and it affects the confidence of foreign investors," he added.

The power transition issue has been a contentious one, as no formal timeframe has been set by Dr Mahathir, although the 93-year-old has repeatedly said that he will handing over the premiership to Anwar.

Last February, Anwar said he expects to be prime minister in not more than two-years' time, adding that Dr Mahathir must be given enough space to govern effectively during "very difficult and trying times".

Dr Idris said it would be better if Dr Mahathir resigned as soon as possible to make way for Anwar to take over the premiership.

“But it’s okay, we give them some time on how to transfer his position to Anwar.”

Dr Idris also send a strong message that Otai Reformasi would act if the candidate for premiership was not Anwar.

“In consensus, the eighth prime minister must be Anwar. After that, it doesn’t matter. That is the agreement.”

Pressed over the matter, other Otai Reformasi members, whose name is not known, said they might take matters to the streets if Anwar wasn't made prime minister.

“I say it’s possible, we will go down the streets again,” said the unidentified individual.

Meanwhile, Dr Idris also took the opportunity to criticise Dr Mahathir’s leadership.

“Dr Mahathir has not performed to the aspiration of Pakatan and society to put forward a government that is just. That is the reason we are here,” he added.