Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi has balked at speculation that a minister mentor post would be created soon.

This is alleged to be a compromise between Umno's prime minister candidate Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Bersatu in order to solidify support.

Taking to Facebook, Puad said the next government should avoid becoming a Perikatan Nasional 2.0.

"Don't turn this new government into a proxy one, with a hidden hand behind the scenes.

"There is no need for a minister mentor as suggested," he said.

Bersatu supreme council member Eddin Syazlee Shith told Malaysiakini that a possibility of creating a minister mentor post for party president Muhyiddin Yassin had been brought up during talks between BN and PN.

However, he said no decision was made on this.

Ismail Sabri was previously deputy prime minister when Muhyiddin was in power.

The Bersatu president had resigned from office after Umno MPs aligned to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi withdrew support, leaving Muhyiddin without a majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Puad is aligned to Zahid. However, he is not an MP.

Yesterday, the Umno supreme council and MPs, including those aligned to Zahid, had unanimously decided to back Ismail Sabri as the country's next prime minister.

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