KUALA LUMPUR – DAP leaders refuse to buy into Umno’s assertion that Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will remain as prime minister should the party return to federal power, amid allegations that party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is tipped for the position.
Taking to Twitter, they cited the Johor election in March as an illustration of how an individual that has been nominated by Umno and tipped for the top post was later dropped for someone else.
During the state election, Umno had named Datuk Hasni Mohammad, who was the incumbent menteri besar then, as its sole candidate for the position.
However, after securing victory, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi was instead sworn in as the new menteri besar, although there has been chatter within the party that this was rather down to an intervention by the state palace.
In a Twitter post this morning, incumbent Segambut MP and DAP assistant national publicity secretary Hannah Yeoh said the incident in Johor has already set a precedent that a poster boy named by Umno will not necessarily head the administration after winning the election.
UMNO in Johor has already set a precedent, poster boy did not become Chief Minister after winning state elections. Don't believe their poster boy narrative. Ismail clearly takes instruction from Zahid.https://t.co/cTyAnWTzmu
— Hannah Yeoh (@hannahyeoh) October 17, 2022
“Don’t believe their poster boy narrative. Ismail clearly takes instruction from Zahid,” she said in reference to Zahid, who is claimed to be calling all the shots in the party as its president.
Her comment was in response to Zahid’s statement yesterday that Ismail Sabri remains Umno's choice as prime minister candidate ahead of the election.
However, the Bagan Datuk MP said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will ultimately have the discretionary power to appoint a Dewan Rakyat member whom he feels commands the majority support of the House.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had similarly told The Vibes that the party has not changed its stance to name Ismail Sabri as its prime ministerial choice.
DAP national vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming similarly drew comparisons between the situation today with the Johor election, noting how a similar promise was made then but not delivered.
“It is almost certain that the ‘item ordered and the item delivered’ will not be the same.
“Don’t be like Johor…many Barisan Nasional (BN) voters will be lied to again,” the incumbent Teluk Intan lawmaker tweeted.
Hampir pasti “barang order dan barang sampai” tidak sama. Jangan jadi macam di Johor, ada ramai pengundi BN yg kena ditipu lagi. ? pic.twitter.com/E9mwKLYt2z
— Nga Kor Ming (@NgaKorMing) October 16, 2022
Meanwhile, DAP central executive committee member Syahredzan Johan, who is rumoured to contest in Bangi in the upcoming election, pointed out that the post-election process would conventionally see the leader of the winning party meeting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to form the new government.
Kalau BN menang, yang akan menghadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong untuk bentuk Kerajaan adalah Pengerusi BN sebagai ketua parti.
— Syahredzan Johan (@syahredzan) October 17, 2022
Siapa Pengerusi BN? DS Zahid Hamidi. https://t.co/eWLQ1hKba7
“If BN wins, the one who will have an audience with the Agong to form the government is the BN chairman, as the head of the party. Who is the BN chairman? Zahid Hamidi,” he noted.
“This is not propaganda. It is real. You can check for yourself.”
Umno had in April announced that the Supreme Council has unanimously agreed that Ismail Sabri will be its sole prime ministerial candidate, although politicians have suggested that Zahid might instead rise to power. – The Vibes, October 17, 2022
