Now's not the right time for UMNO to claim DPM post - Political analyst

Universiti Utara Malaysia political analyst, Prof Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed said the main issue that needs to be understood is that the power to elect a DPM is the privilege of the Prime Minister himself.

According to him, such demands should be set aside first, instead they should prioritise the health of the people and the country and put the interests of the country above individuals or parties.

"Putting conditions or demands is not an appropriate thing now, especially in a situation where the country is still plagued by a leadership crisis ... a political crisis.

"Although the budget presentation has been approved (at the policy stage), we find there is still pressure from the opposition who are trying to fail the budget passage at the committee stage.

"In the current situation, making a claim that creates an unstable situation will definitely invite a sense of discomfort in the eyes of the community," he told Astro AWANI.

Dr Ahmad Martadha was commenting on the statement by UMNO Vice President, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who stressed that UMNO will raise again the issue on the DPM position once the 2021 Budget debate was completed in the Dewan Rakyat.

According to him, the issue of the DPM position has never been silenced because the party currently has the largest seat in the government.

However, UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today asked UMNO leaders and members not to urge Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to re-create the post of DPM by giving a quota to the party.

He said the power of appointing a DPM, ministers and deputy ministers rested entirely at the discretion of the prime minister.

Meanwhile, a different tone was voiced by a political analyst from University Malaya (UM), Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.

According to him, the issue of the DPM post is still relevant to be raised because it seems to be silenced now.

“If we look at the appropriateness of this issue to be played or maybe stopped for a while, I think this issue is a relevant issue, much talked about among the UMNO grassroots.

"We know that UMNO or Barisan Nasional (BN) has the largest majority in PN, then the appointment of Cabinet positions is not based on the party hierarchy except for Senior Defense Minister is held by Ismail Sabri," he said.