The proposal to create the post of a second BN deputy chairman to be appointed from among component parties in Sabah and Sarawak should be brought to the BN supreme council, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

Muhyiddin, who is BN deputy chairman, said that it was better for the matter to be discussed in the council than for it to be debated openly.

"I think any proposal can be brought before the top leadership. We have a council where all leaders sit and submit any matter that they want to.

"Normally, a decision is reached by consensus," Muhyiddin told reporters after opening the United Pasok Kadazandusun Murut Organisation triennial delegates conference at the Penampang Cultural Centre in Sabah.

He had been asked to comment on an Upko proposal that a second BN deputy chairman be appointed from Sabah or Sarawak and that the person be made second deputy prime minister.

Most likely status quo on seats

On the allocation of seats for the coming general election, Muhyiddin said that component parties would "most likely" contest in the same constituencies they did in the 2008 polls "except if there is an agreement for a swap."  

"A new problem will crop up if one party gets more seats than before and another less," he said.

Asked who would be allocated the seats held by the Sabah Progressive Party which has left BN, Muhyiddin said this would be decided later.

- Bernama