KOTA KINABALU – It is the prime minister’s prerogative to appoint his deputy of choice, said Sabah Star president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan.
He told The Vibes that the No. 2 post is not designated to any political leader or party, therefore, the question of who has more right to it does not arise.
“It is (Prime Minister Tan Sri) Muhyiddin Yassin’s prerogative to choose his deputy or deputies.
“It can be any political leader whom he wishes to take up the post.”
Earlier, Utusan Malaysia reported Jeffrey as saying any Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leader has the right to demand the post of deputy prime minister.
Jeffrey, who is also one of the four Perikatan Nasional deputy chairmen, said the prime minister can choose any leader, including from Sabah or Sarawak, from any party for the post.
No Borneo leader has ever been made deputy prime minister in Malaysia’s history, although political alliances have included it in their election pledges.
“I feel there is no barrier for the post to go to me or another party if the move can further strengthen the PN government and does not interfere with the position of any parties,” said Jeffrey.
GRS, an alliance formed ahead of the September 26 Sabah election, has 11 MPs, while Gabungan Parti Sarawak has 18, and Umno, 23.
Jeffrey said it does not make sense for him to be offered the post as his party holds just one parliamentary seat, namely Keningau.
“Well, I have only one seat, and therefore, why should I demand the post? Besides, the reason for me being an MP is to contribute to the people and country, not for position.”
On Sunday, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the matter of the deputy prime minister’s post being filled by someone from his party will be raised again after the Budget 2021 debate.
President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, meanwhile, has requested Umno members not to pressure Muhyiddin to reinstate the post and give it to the party.
Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan yesterday defended the view that the party has a right to the post.
Utusan reported that Muhyiddin rejected Zahid for the post due to the latter’s ongoing corruption trial, where he faces 47 counts of breach of trust, corruption and money laundering. – The Vibes, December 2, 2020
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