PETALING JAYA, Aug 16 (Sin Chew Daily) — Parti Pejuang Tanah Air confirms that deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had a meeting with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to seek the latter's support as the country's next prime minister.

However, Mahathir did not agree.

Pejuang secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya said the party's stand was straightforward: to support the establishment of a national recovery council made up of professionals to lift the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis.

He also said the party had no intention at this moment to involve in the discussion of supporting any prime minister candidate, as prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has yet to formally resign.

"The pandemic is more important than who becomes PM. The country will collapse if you become PM but do not perform.

"This was what Mahathir explained to Ismail Sabri."