Don’t pressure Muhy over the DPM post, says Zahid

BAGAN DATUK: Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) has asked the party’s leaders and members not to pressure Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to reinstate the Deputy Prime Minister post and give it to Umno.

Ahmad Zahid said appointments as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister and Deputy Minister are the absolute prerogative of the Prime Minister.

“As such, there should not be any open speculation, interpretation or analysis on the post of Deputy Prime Minister, although it must be admitted that this matter has been discussed at party meetings. The appointment is the prerogative of the Prime Minister.

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“Any parties can request but let’s not pressure because we have to respect the power accorded to the Prime Minister,” Ahmad Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk Member of Parliament (MP), said after joining local residents for breakfast at Warung Kopi Atan Deris at the Hutan Melintang jetty, here, Sunday.

Umno Vice-President Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in an exclusive interview with a local Malay daily, said the issue of Umno asking for the Deputy Prime Minister post would be raised after the debate on Budget 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat has been completed.

Ismail Sabri said apart from the Senior Minister post held by him, Umno had not been given other senior portfolios despite having the largest bloc of MPs in the Perikatan Nasional government. 

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Meanwhile, Pahang Bersatu Secretary Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said there should be no issue of which party will be more dominant if Bersatu, PAS and Umno form a coalition to face the 15th general election.

He said in the current situation, all parties should be willing to work together and prioritise the people’s interests and welfare.

“Present-day politics should be viewed from the current situation; let’s not be influenced by the old political framework which will make it difficult for us to work, as what is important is to place the people first.

“We should adopt an open attitude and the issue of who is riding (on someone) and dominating should not arise in forming a coalition of Malay parties...this coalition should be given a chance to serve,” he told a news conference in Kuatan, Pahang, Sunday. 

On Saturday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in his policy address at the Bersatu annual general assembly, said it would be good for all Malay Muslim leaders to be grouped under a major alliance to create stability in Malaysia, instead of being split into small factions.