I have never attempted to be DPM - Hishammuddin

KUALA LUMPUR:Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein today stressed that he had never made any effort to be linked to the post of Deputy Prime Minister.

In his latest Facebook post, the Sembrong Member of Parliament said he was grateful that UMNO had given him support to represent the party in the Cabinet.

“I believe, the most important thing that is the focus of the Government and UMNO now is the parliamentary session, Budget 2021 and managing the COVID-19 crisis, not a matter of position.

"This stance is in line with the UMNO President's media statement and the decision of the UMNO Supreme Council during the day, which is to respond to the call of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for all parties to stop politics and unite to fight COVID-19," he added.

He said this when commenting on a newspaper report that his name was among the three UMNO leaders mentioned to be filling the post of Deputy Prime Minister.

Apart from Hishammuddin, also reported in the consideration of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin are UMNO Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and UMNO Vice President Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Astro AWANI previously reported that the granting of the post to UMNO, was one of the considerations for their support for the Supply (Budget) Bill 2021, and the country's political stability.

For the record, UMNO now has 39 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, the Barisan Nasional support party is once again reported to be holding a Supreme Council (MT) Meeting tonight at Menara Dato Onn.

Sources informed Astro AWANI that tonight's meeting, which will be chaired by its President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, will discuss the post of Deputy Prime Minister.