KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s decision to field Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as their prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming national polls will help galvanise the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in its quest to return to power, its leaders said today.
MCA President Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said Umno’s unanimous decision was “accurate” and enables the consolidation of politics and government, heralding the return to the “golden era of Barisan Nasional”.
“Ismail Sabri’s leadership is exceptional, which forms the basis of the decision,” Wee said after attending Umno’s breaking fast event at the World Trade Centre, here, this evening.
Wee said the decision would provide a clear direction for the BN coalition in its goal of reclaiming federal power, which it lost in a watershed election in 2018.
Earlier this evening, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the party will be fielding Ismail Sabri for the number one post in the upcoming polls, following a unanimous decision by the supreme council.
The decision came following a supreme council meeting chaired by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the party’s headquarters in Menara Dato Onn here today.
At the same event, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid thanked Zahid and deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan for raising the matter to the supreme council, allowing it to reach the decision through consensus.
“This proves to Malaysians that Umno is one team and that Umno’s leadership had reflected on the party itself, therefore the support was unanimous,” Mahdzir said.
Meanwhile, Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said it is important to give the opportunity for Ismail Sabri to become the prime minister in the next election but warned that the candidacy is not a guarantee for the post.
Taking the example of last month’s Johor election, where Umno’s preferred candidate for menteri besar did not make the cut, he said Ismail Sabri could be replaced by others as many politicians have high ambitions.
“Even I have ambitions, but it does not involve becoming prime minister,” said Tajuddin, who declared himself a strong supporter of the prime minister. – The Vibes, April 14, 2022
