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KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has rubbished notions that there are certain quarters within Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) that are opposed to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s leadership as prime minister.
According to the BN deputy chairman, the party has made a clear decision to support Ismail Sabri’s candidacy as the prime minister ahead of the 15th general election.
Mohamad, who is fondly known as Tok Mat, said any conflicting suggestions by party members should not be considered Umno’s or BN’s official stand.
“We have recently recognised that the prime minister will be our poster boy as we face the general election,” Bernama quoted him as saying after officiating the Sabah BN convention in Penampang today.
“This clearly shows the party’s sincerity in ensuring that there is calmness in heading to the polls.
“Talk among one or two individuals must not be considered the party’s policy. Our policy is clear, that our poster boy is Ismail Sabri.”
The Umno deputy president was asked to comment on Ismail Sabri’s speech at a dinner function organised by Sabah BN yesterday, where he called on party unity and said that any attack on him would also weaken the coalition.
Mohamad’s remarks today comes amid suggestions of infighting within Umno following explosive revelations made by Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman earlier this week.
The former Umno Supreme Council member had, among other things, revealed that 15 MPs including president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were initially reluctant to back Ismail Sabri as prime minister during the political crisis last year.
According to Mohamad, what is important in Umno and BN today is that those in the party foster unity and consensus in facing the looming election.
“After all, we (BN) have even chosen stability as our tagline, namely ‘stability for prosperity’,” he said, as quoted by Bernama. – The Vibes, July 2, 2022