Dr Mahathir refuses to accept reality - Ismail Sabri

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad seems unable to accept the reality that there are other leaders who are ranked higher than him at the moment, said UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Rural and Regional Development Minister said the negative attitude was evident when Dr Mahathir described his position in the opposition pact Pakatan Harapan as 'unofficially' on par with that of the position of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"Being a president of a party, the position is the same. Mat Sabu (Mohamad Sabu) is also a party president (Parti Amanah Negara). There are various parties in Malaysia, small parties, anybody can become a party president.

"Just remember, the prime minister (Najib) is the president of UMNO and chairman of Barisan Nasional, which controls the current government. Of course, it's very different," he said.

Recently, Dr Mahathir said he would chair Pakatan Harapan's presidential council meetings and would become the 'top dog' in the hierarchy of the opposition coalition.

In the meantime, in Dungun, Ismail Sabri said rural youths who do not have salary slips now have the opportunity to own their own homes through the National Buildings Scheme (RBN) introduced by his ministry.

The scheme was aimed at addressing the problem of home ownership often faced by rural youths, he told reporters when launching a housing project in Bandar Ketengah Jaya.

-- BERNAMA