KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu’s obsession with government positions, including its demand for the deputy prime minister post, proves Umno is the more honourable and better party of the two.
This was the conclusion made by Umno supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi after Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan all but confirmed that his party had demanded for the number two post as part of an earlier agreement with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
In a Facebook post, Puad said this admission showed that positions have always been Bersatu’s priority.
He also took a dig at Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin making his party’s future take precedence over the rakyat, even during his downfall.
“It now appears that Bersatu has been threatening Ismail Sabri for positions from the very beginning. This means Umno is better and more gentlemanly,” he said today.
“When Umno supported Muhyiddin as prime minister, there was no written agreement or any conditions to allocate the deputy prime minister’s post.
“Umno supported Muhyiddin to be prime minister for the sake of the rakyat, despite him colluding with DAP to topple Barisan Nasional (BN) during the 14th general election.
“Bersatu, on the other hand, is supporting Ismail Sabri for the deputy prime minister position, and not the rakyat.”
In this regard, Puad said it would only be appropriate that Ismail Sabri ignore the agreement with Bersatu, as it brings no benefit to the rakyat.
Previously on Sunday, Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, had said he met with Ismail Sabri recently to discuss several pertinent issues, including the coveted deputy prime minister post and several other positions, which had been previously agreed last August.
Yesterday, Wan Saiful was quoted by FMT as defending his party’s demand for the position, claiming it is not a new request but merely an unfulfilled promise.
The demand was part of an agreement to get Perikatan Nasional to support Ismail Sabri to form the new government during the political crisis last year.
This is after several Umno lawmakers led by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi withdrew their support for Muhyiddin, who had served as the head of government from March 2020 to August 2021.
Among the names being touted as candidates for the deputy prime minister position include Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali. – The Vibes, July 6, 2022
