PETALING JAYA: The transition plan with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a done deal, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR president said following his weekly private meetings with the premier, he has no doubts about the succession plan.

“He has been very genuine. Our discussions were frank and open.

“However, I don’t think it is necessary to share the issues that we agreed between us,” he told reporters after chairing the party’s central committee meeting at its headquarters yesterday.

The power transition has been a contentious issue as no formal time frame has been set by Dr Mahathir, although the 93-year-old has repeatedly said that he would hand over the premiership to Anwar.

Last February, Anwar said he expected to take charge in not more than two years, but noted that Dr Mahathir must be given enough space to govern effectively during these “difficult and trying times”.

At the meeting, the PKR central leadership reiterated that it was satisfied with the transition plan, agreed by all in the top Pakatan Harapan leadership on Jan 7.

“We will continue to support Dr Mahathir’s leadership and the Cabinet to revive the economy, implement institutional reforms and protect the security of the nation,” said the Port Dickson MP.

On the sex video controversy, Anwar reiterated the party’s position to reject gutter politics and would not call in party deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

“We are not interested to question or discuss the content. This is also the decision adopted by the disciplinary committee.

“I don’t think it’s fair at this juncture to question him during this difficult time,” he said.

On Sunday, in an exclusive interview with The Star, Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz challenged Azmin to take legal action if the Economic Affairs Minister was confident of his own innocence.

To this, Anwar said it was “purely a decision by Azmin and his counsel to make”.

“I don’t think it is proper for me to intervene. But I will convey my personal views from time to time,” he said.

On the author of Why Anwar Should Not Be PM – Yahaya Ismail – who named Azmin as the best candidate for the next prime minister in his manuscript, Anwar retorted: “Nobody takes him seriously.”

“He is known to be a mercenary writer. So, I don’t believe his book is considered as mainstream, intellectual, academic or gets book reviews.

“It does not warrant a response,” Anwar said, adding that he would leave the matter to the police to take the appropriate action.

A police report has been lodged against Yahaya for blackmailing Anwar for a sum of RM400,000 in order for the book not to be published.