UMNO will raise issue of DPM post after 2021 Budget debate completed - Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO will raise again the issue of the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) position to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as soon as the debate on the 2021 Budget is completed in the Dewan Rakyat.

UMNO Vice President, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the issue of the DPM post was never put aside because the party currently has the largest number of seats in the government.

Furthermore, the Bera Member of Parliament asserted, no UMNO leader was given the highest position in the Cabinet other than the Senior Minister of Defence that he currently holds.

"Barisan Nasional (BN) has 42 seats (in Parliament), the largest, but we do not have the highest position. I am the only senior minister, the other (three) are all from Bersatu

"So, it is only fair for UMNO to ask for the post of DPM and it should be given as proposed by the Political Bureau and agreed by the Supreme Council (UMNO)," he said in an interview with Mingguan Malaysia on Sunday.

According to Ismail Sabri, a follow-up discussion between the Prime Minister who is also the President of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) with UMNO President, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be expedited.

He added that the post of DPM has been agreed by the party according to the hierarchy by prioritising the top five leaders starting with the president, deputy president and three other vice presidents.

"We leave it to the public to evaluate (who should be eligible). For UMNO, we need the post of DPM but those who are outside the hierarchy should not fill the position.

“It is not to appoint anyone at will, UMNO's stand must be respected. So, I hope after the Budget, this matter is discussed again," he added.

The issue of the DPM post was hotly debated before this. Iin fact, some UMNO leaders' names were also rumoured to be among the shortlisted names as candidates for the second-highest post in the government.

Among them were Sembrong MP who is also Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein, Chairman of the UMNO Advisory Council, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Ismail Sabri himself.

Apart from them, UMNO Vice President who is also MP for Padang Terap, Datuk Seri Mahadzir Khalid and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin are also among the names listed as candidates.