Hadi Awang is the most suitable candidate for DPM - Tun M

Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has named PAS President, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as the most suitable candidate for Deputy Prime Minister in the new Cabinet to be formed by Perikatan Nasional.

He said it was likely that the new Cabinet expected to be announced on Tuesday will be led by a majority of Umno MPs, including those who have just joined the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

He also stressed that the proposal by former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi not to be included the Cabinet was a good decision.

Zahid's decision, Dr Mahathir said, could give him a chance to prove his innocence in court.

"The most likely candidate, maybe Haji Hadi (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang). It's true (the new Cabinet will be led by UMNO), Bersatu have six (original Members of Parliament).

"UMNO has over 50 (including those who joined Bersatu), so I do not know how this small one (Bersatu) will control the bigger one. Normally it is the bigger one that controls the smaller one," Dr Mahathir said when met by the media after attending the Kedawang Branch Meeting here on Sunday.

Yesterday, Zahid, who is also the UMNO President, in his speech to UMNO leaders and members in the Bagan Datuk division, had made a proposal to the prime minister to exclude him from being appointed to the Cabinet.