KLUANG – Allegations that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be appointed as prime minister if Barisan Nasional (BN) wins the 15th general election (GE15) are part of an effort to dampen voters’ confidence in the coalition, said MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong..
Wee said MCA would still name Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as its candidate for the prime minister’s post, in support of the decisions made at the Umno 2021 general assembly and the Umno Supreme Council meeting in April.
“I feel that the opposition will try to mislead. They will take advantage by making various assumptions, including regarding the candidate for the prime minister’s post.
“I attended the breaking of fast event at the World Trade Centre after the Umno Supreme Council meeting in April, where Umno unanimously nominated Ismail Sabri as the prime minister candidate for GE15,” he told reporters after the programme organised by the Johor National Anti-Drugs Agency at Dewan Putra, Ayer Hitam here today.
Wee also called on voters and supporters not to be confused and fall for the opposition’s narrative of unrest in the coalition.
Wee, the BN candidate for the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat, urged supporters to double their efforts to repeat the success the coalition achieved in the Johor election in March.
Yesterday, Ismail Sabri reiterated his position as BN’s candidate for the prime minister’s post after GE15, and denied the existence of a statutory declaration to nominate another prime minister candidate allegedly signed by all Umno candidates that went viral on social media recently.
Asked to comment on the racial issues frequently raised by certain parties in the parliamentary constituency each time there is a general election, Wee said he is only focused on ensuring the party’s victory.
“Presently, BN is more concerned with the stability of every community so that the agenda on development and progress can be felt,” he said, while urging other political parties to stop harping on the issue as it could threaten national harmony.
In GE15, Wee, 54, will be challenged by Pakatan Harapan’s Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali, who is also Johor DAP vice-chairman, and Muhammad Syafiq A. Aziz of Perikatan Nasional.
Wee, who has held the parliamentary seat for four terms, won with a narrow majority of 303 votes against Liew Chin Tong (PH) and Mardi Marwan (PAS) in GE14. – Bernama, November 6, 2022
