KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin has reminded Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan that the position of prime minister can only be decided once the party wins the general election and obtains enough seats or support.
He pointed out that the goal can only be realised if Malaysia’s oldest Malay-based party wins enough seats on its own or obtains adequate support from prospective allies.
“If Umno wants to become the prime minister, we must win the election first,” he said, in obvious reference to Mohamad earlier joking at a press conference about the possibility of himself becoming the prime minister.
Asked who will be Umno’s prime ministerial candidate, Mohamad, who is the party’s deputy president, had said with a straight face: “You are talking to him now.” He then broke out in laughter, before adding: “I’m only joking. I like to joke around.”
Mohamad, who is fondly known as Tok Mat, had insisted that Umno must remain in the pilot seat should it form a government with any parties in the future. He stressed that Umno is not used to playing second fiddle.
Zahidi said Umno has not won yet and so the issue may not seem pressing, but it will haunt the party if it loses.
“If Umno wins the election, it becomes the prime minister. What he (Mohamad) said was correct. But if we don’t win, what then? How can we be (holding the post of) the prime minister?
“If we only win 60, 80 seats, how (is that possible)? He (Mohamad) said that Umno must lead and (hold the office of) the prime minister, but can PAS accept this? What about GPS? What about Sarawak? Can they accept it?
“We must find a prime ministerial candidate that everyone can accept. Right now, we are not even the deputy (prime minister). The rakyat must accept us first,” said Zahidi.
The deputy communications and multimedia minister also dismissed allegations that the original speakers at Umno’s annual general assembly were replaced by those favoured by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He explained that the decision on appointing the delegates speaking at the assembly lies with a committee tasked with the selection.
“We hope that our conference will make a wise decision. It doesn’t matter who speaks but we ask that the delegates make a wise decision so Umno can survive. One wrong decision and we are done for.
“If we make a wrong decision and Umno loses in the next election, it will be very difficult for us to rise again,” said Zahidi. – The Vibes, March 27, 2021
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