KUALA LUMPUR – Amid Bersatu’s persistent demand for the deputy prime minister’s post, Umno’s Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed has sarcastically called on fellow party member Tan Sri Annuar Musa to clarify the matter on behalf of the rival party.
He called on Annuar, who has been mocked as Bersatu’s stand-in spokesman within Umno, along with other cabinet members from Umno to reveal details of a possible political agreement between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“Umno grassroots members surely want to know the details of this deal. Does it benefit the party and the people, or would it benefit certain people only?
“Umno members surely want to know whether the deal was done on the basis of the party or was it personal? Because if it is in the name of the party, the entire leadership and Umno members would like to know.
“So why don’t we just wait for Annuar or maybe other Umno ministers in the government to clarify on the matter,” said Nur Jazlan.
Nur Jazlan, who is Johor Umno’s deputy chief and former Pulai MP, was responding to Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s claim that Ismail Sabri had signed a deal with PN on the allocation of positions within the government, including that of the deputy prime minister.
Muhyiddin is the chairman of PN while Ismail Sabri is an Umno vice-president.
Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan had yesterday claimed that the party’s demand is in line with the agreement that was signed by Ismai Sabri to secure PN’s support prior to his appointment as prime minister last August.
Nur Jazlan ridiculed Annuar for his penchant for bringing up the story of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi supporting PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s bid to be prime minister through statutory declarations.
“He would be best to talk on this deal because he is the only living witness,” Nur Jazlan said.
The deputy home minister had also lambasted Muhyiddin, accusing him of demanding the deputy prime minister’s post to prevent more people from leaving Bersatu.
Nur Jazlan also reiterated his distrust of Bersatu and their partner PAS, who had previously betrayed Umno during the Sabah state election. – The Vibes, July 8, 2022
