MIRI – Speculation that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi could be Barisan Nasional’s (BN) prime minister candidate, despite denials, has continued to be an opposition talking point.
Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) today said BN’s East Malaysian ally, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), should openly state if it will support Zahid, who is facing multiple corruption charges, for the prime minister’s post.
State PH information chief Abun Sui Anyit told The Vibes that GPS must state its choice for the next prime minister as Sarawakians want clarity should the BN-GPS pact win the 15th general election.
“If GPS is willing to endorse Umno again, who then is GPS going to endorse as the next PM from Umno?
“Is the GPS coalition going to back Zahid if Zahid stakes a claim to the PM post if he wins and Umno wins big?
“Or is GPS sticking to (caretaker prime minister) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for another term if Ismail Sabri wins?” said Abun Sui, who is also Sarawak PKR deputy chairman.
“Since GPS leaders have said they are willing to work with these Malaya parties after polling day, they must surely be thinking about who GPS wants as next PM,” he added.
PH chairman and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a week ago claimed Zahid could be prime minister if BN wins GE15.
However, a day later, both Zahid and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin refuted Anwar’s claim, insisting that the party’s stance of Ismail Sabri as prime ministerial candidate still remains.
At recent Umno divisions meetings, 151 out of 192 divisions also reportedly voiced their support for Ismail Sabri, the Bera incumbent, to be prime minister.
Despite this, a number of DAP leaders have refused to buy into the claim, citing the recent Johor election – when Umno’s choice of menteri besar was not sworn into the position – as an illustration of how an individual that has been nominated by the party may not necessarily assume the post.
Late last month, Umno was forced to deny that Zahid would be prime minister instead of Ismail Sabri, after a fake viral message circulated following the former’s acquittal on 40 corruption charges related to the contract of a company operating a foreign visa system.
The prosecution has filed an appeal.
In Sarawak, Abun Sui said voters are concerned that GPS will back Umno and PAS. Local Sarawak opposition party, Parti Bumi Kenyalang, also warned that GPS could enter a pact with Umno and PAS to form the next federal government. – The Vibes, October 24, 2022
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