[UPDATED] Ismail Sabri still PM candidate, not Zahid: Umno hits back at detractors

KUALA LUMPUR – Claims that Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will helm the country as the new prime minister should Umno return to federal power are erroneous and without basis, the party said in dismissing such allegations. 

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said his party has not shifted from its previous decision to name Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the sole prime ministerial candidate for the 15th general election. 

This effectively puts to rest allegations by the opposition and mounting concerns raised by the public ahead of the polls. 

“So far, Umno and BN’s stand has not changed,” Khaled said in a brief response to The Vibes when asked to comment on the matter. 

The former Johor menteri besar believes critics are desperately resorting to false accusations as they are bereft of ideas and have no other issues to play up. 

His statement follows opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remark on Friday night that Zahid will be the prime minister if Barisan Nasional wins the election, but stopped short of elaborating. 

The PKR president merely said it was evident that BN wanted an early election this year so that it could retain power. 

Several users on social media have also expressed similar concerns that Zahid would succeed Ismail Sabri in helming the federal administration should his coalition secure a victory in the coming polling, expected early next month. 

Meanwhile, Zahid said that while the party is standing by its decision to champion Ismail Sabri as its candidate for prime minister, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has the power to elect a prime minister based on his discretionary powers. 

“Umno has elected Ismail Sabri as our PM candidate…this cannot be questioned,” he said during a press conference after the Bagan Datuk Umno division annual meeting today. 

“However, the Agong has the discretionary power to appoint a Dewan Rakyat member who has the majority support of MPs who form the government, according to the federal constitution.” 

He also labelled allegations by opposition parties suggesting that Umno will put up leaders other than Ismail Sabri as its choice for prime minister as an attempt to cause disruptions in Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN). 

“If opposition parties name anyone else other than Ismail Sabri as Umno’s choice for PM, it is an attempt to break up Umno and BN,” he said. 

“I have no respect for such (accusations). Umno only respects the Agong’s powers.”

This is not the first time allegations have surfaced claiming Zahid will be Umno’s choice of prime minister, with the party’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan having to issue a denial when the matter similarly surfaced last month. 

Umno had in April announced that the Supreme Council has unanimously agreed that Ismail Sabri will be its sole prime ministerial candidate, amid factionalism within the political outfit that threatened to split the party. 

Ismail Sabri is said to be leading a separate camp within Umno, consisting largely of his cabinet members, against Zahid and the other top party leaders without government positions. 

It was previously rumoured that Umno number two Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is set to contest in a parliamentary seat in the coming election, could take over the premiership after the polls. 

Ismail Sabri had announced the dissolution of Parliament on October 10, on the back of mounting pressure from the party’s top guns to call for election before the end of the year. 

The opposition has consistently maintained that Umno’s persistent push for an early election was to serve as a way out for its leaders who are currently mired in corruption charges and allegations. – The Vibes, October 16, 2022