KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had only promised two deputy prime ministers in the event of a Pakatan Harapan (PH) victory in the coming election, and not three, as per reported in the media.
Press secretary to the PKR president, Tunku Nashrul Tunku Abaidah, noted that Anwar had announced that one of the appointments will be from the peninsula, while another will represent Sabah and Sarawak.
Tunku Nashrul was referring to several media reports that quoted the opposition leader as saying after an event in Sandakan yesterday that the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak will each get one deputy prime minister’s post.
“This stand and spirit (of having two deputy prime ministers) is consistent since the Pakatan Rakyat era to date.
“I ask that the media make the necessary correction to their published articles,” Tunku Nashrul said in a brief statement today.
Speaking to the press yesterday, Anwar said PH has not changed its stance when it comes to the appointment of deputy prime ministers.
“Our proposal since the Pakatan Rakyat days is to have one from the peninsula, and one for Sabah and Sarawak. If there are any changes, we will discuss,” he said.
However, several media had mistakenly interpreted his remark to mean that both Sabah and Sarawak will also get their own deputy prime ministers.
Anwar had been speaking in response to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s promise in Sabah yesterday that Barisan Nasional (BN) would appoint three deputy prime ministers, with two of those reserved for Sabah and Sarawak, if BN won in the coming election. – The Vibes, October 24, 2022
