BAGAN DATUK, Nov 7 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the party’s vice president and caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is still Barisan Nasional’s (BN) sole candidate for the prime minister post.
“We can see his (Ismail Sabri) posters and billboards everywhere including here in Bagan Datuk,” he told reporters when asked if Ismail Sabri is still BN’s poster boy.
During a press conference at his home here, Zahid said that while political leaders get to nominate their prime minister candidate, it is absolutely necessary to respect Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree.
“I am not the prime minister at the moment, although I’m (currently) the president of Umno and chairman of BN. So in this situation, for some time we have been helmed by a prime minister from Umno.
“So this issue should not be discussed as the process to choose a certain prime minister is not only in the hands of any political parties but also the Agong.
“We must respect Agong’s absolute discretion based on the federal constitution under Article 43,” he responded when reporters asked about him potentially being the first Umno president that did not become prime minister.
He also rebuked the coalition’s political rival’s campaigning mantra of saying “vote for BN is a vote for Zahid” saying it is merely a slogan for campaigning.
“That has been the Opposition’s slogan and during campaigning, they just bring up any issues to help their candidates win.
“But the most important thing for BN is that we have to cross the bridge to prevail in this upcoming election and have enough seats to form the federal government,” he added.
