PETALING JAYA: A PAS leader has dismissed the proposal to appoint deputy prime ministers from East Malaysia, saying such a move will only increase the government’s expenditure.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the proposal was merely an empty promise to satisfy the political parties in the Borneo states.
Tuan Ibrahim said those vying for control of the federal government would make all sorts of promises as they were desperate for power.
“However, the question is whether the demands will be appropriate for the future of the country,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying.
Yesterday, Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pledged to appoint three deputy prime ministers, one each from Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula, should the coalition win the 15th general election (GE15).
Separately, Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim said PH would appoint two deputy prime ministers if it was voted into power in the coming polls. He said there would be one deputy prime minister from Peninsular Malaysia and one from Sabah or Sarawak.
Tuan Ibrahim said the role of a prime minister and a deputy prime minister was to focus on the development of the country as a whole and not on one region.
“There is no need for a deputy prime minister for just one region,” he said. “It will only increase costs for the government.”
He added that Perikatan Nasional had yet to discuss the appointment of deputy prime ministers should it win GE15.
The caretaker environment and water minister said it was more important for the government to focus on development plans and financial allocations to improve the poorer districts in Sabah and Sarawak as well as in the peninsula.
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