APPOINTING Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as Deputy Prime Minister would be akin to committing political suicide, said Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
The Gombak MP’s image has been tarnished since the formation of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Government, the UMNO supreme council member explained in a Facebook post.
“Based on comments left by netizens since PN became the Government, Azmin’s image has been negative both moral- and performance-wise. Appointing him as Deputy Prime Minister can be described as suicide,” Puad remarked.
He was responding to news reports that the former senior minister is said to be in the front-running for the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“It’s a good thing to leave the DPM post empty,” Puad wrote. “It would serve as a checkmate to lobbyists and others who are fighting for the post.”
Earlier today, Malay Mail reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is not keen on having a deputy, let alone one from political rival Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
Sources from both Umno and Bersatu also told Malay Mail that Ismail Sabri may have little choice but to appoint one as it was among the conditions laid down by Bersatu in return for its support to his prime ministership last week.
A Bersatu insider had also told the English daily that the Bersatu nominee for the DPM post is Azmin, who has also been suggested to be put in charge of the Finance Ministry as well. – Aug 25, 2021.
