Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz has vowed to ensure Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be the anointed successor of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Nazri noted that once Najib retires, a struggle for power is expected but he will ensure that Ahmad Zahid comes out victorious.

“If Najib steps down, then surely there will be an internal struggle over who will become prime minister.

“But I am a supporter of Zahid Hamidi. He is the deputy prime minister and he will also become the prime minister,” he told journalists in Kuala Lumpur today.

Opposition MPs today said they were prepared to back any candidates from the government if they were willing to aid in the ouster of Najib who is being plagued by several scandals.

However, Nazri dismissed the overtures as a strategy to split Umno.

“Their purpose is to weaken Umno by removing its leader,” said Nazri, who is also Padang Rengas MP.