KUALA LUMPUR – It is a busy Sunday for the country’s top leaders, with sources saying statutory declarations are being signed to support Umno’s Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as prime minister and Bersatu’s Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin as his deputy.
This is all happening at the Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur hotel following this morning’s Bersatu meeting where Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly told his cohorts that he will offer his resignation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow morning.
With Muhyiddin’s exit looking likely, the prime minister’s position is up for grabs, especially when there is no single party with majority support.
The Umno-Bersatu combo will ensure that Muhyiddin’s party survives the fallout following his resignation.
It is also this succession plan that has caused Bersatu leaders to not see eye to eye.
To offer the top job to Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri – the present deputy prime minister and defence minister – will mean a defeat for Bersatu.
This, despite Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah retaining the powerful home affairs portfolio.
Earlier, it was discussed that Ismail Sabri will be made to agree to keep the deputy prime minister’s post for Bersatu, and offer the party certain key ministerial positions.
This is because most members are opposed to an Umno 1-2 with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein being named deputy prime minister. – The Vibes, August 15, 2021
